Islamic State ‘Beatle’ appears in London court charged with terrorism offences

LONDON (Reuters) -A 38-year-old man who is accused of being a member of an Islamic State cell dubbed The Beatles and who was deported from Turkey this week appeared in a London court on Thursday after police charged him with terrorism offences.

Prosecutors said they had originally authorised the charging of Aine Davis under terrorism laws in 2014. Davis was arrested at Luton Airport on Wednesday after being deported to Britain from Turkey.

The Islamic State cell assigned to guard foreign prisoners in Syria were dubbed The Beatles by hostages because they were known as English speakers. The group is alleged to have detained and some case killed Western hostages in Syria, including U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid worker Kayla Mueller.

The charges of fundraising for terrorism purposes, being concerned in a terrorist funding arrangement and possession of a firearm for a purpose connected with terrorism were read to Davis during a short court hearing.

He did not enter a plea at Westminster Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody.

Flanked in the dock by two guards and wearing a grey top, Davis spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and to say he had no current address in Britain.

There was no bail application.

The case will next be heard at the Old Bailey on Sept. 2.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Andrew MacAskillAdditional reporting by Shivam Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Mark Heinrich and Frances Kerry)