'Britain's Youngest Ever Suicide Bomber' Carries Out Attack While Fighting For IS | HuffPost

Teenager 'Becomes Britain's Youngest Ever Suicide Bomber'

Jack Sommers— The Huffington Post UK

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The family of a 17-year-old, who has reportedly become the youngest ever British suicide bomber while fighting for Islamic State (IS), have said they are "utterly devastated and heartbroken" by his death.

A Twitter account linked to the Islamist terrorist group posted an image saying "Abu Yusuf Al Britany", who appeared to be Talha Asmal, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, had carried out an attack near an oil refinery in Iraq.

Al Britany is a suffix often given to Britons who join IS, the BBC's Tom Symonds said. Asmal's family called him "loving, kind and caring".

They said: "He never harboured any ill-will against anybody nor did he ever exhibit any violent, extreme or radical views of any kind.

An image apparently of Asmal that was uploaded to Twitter

"Talha's tender years and naivety were it seems however exploited by persons unknown who, hiding behind the anonymity of the world wide web, targeted and befriended Talha and engaged in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him."

They added: "Whilst there it appears that Talha fell under the spell of individuals who continued to prey on his innocence and vulnerability to the point where if the press reports are accurate he was ordered to his death by so-called Isis handlers and leaders too cowardly to do their own dirty work.

"We are all naturally utterly devastated and heartbroken by the unspeakable tragedy that now appears to have befallen us."

Ex-Labour MP Shahid Malik, a family friend, told ITV News: "It is disturbing to see how relaxed he looks in the Isis photographs allegedly taken just prior to his suicide mission.

"He looks at peace. It's like he's ready to go and meet his maker. This is a clear indication of just how successful the evil Isis groomers have been in poisoning and brainwashing Talha and kids like him."

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West Yorkshire Police said: "The police have been made aware of media reports with regard to the death of a British National in Iraq.

"The identity of the person who has reportedly died has not been confirmed at this time and we are unable to comment further."

If claims he carried out the attack are correct, Asmal is the youngest Briton to ever do such an attack.

Hasib Hussain, also from West Yorkshire, was nearly 19 when he bombed a bus in London's Tavistock Square. He was the youngest of the four bombers who attacked the city on July 7, 2005.

Iraq city of Ramadi falls to Islamic State

(01 of20)

Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists during sand storm in the eastern part of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Islamic State extremists tend to take advantage of bad weather when they attack Iraqi security forces positions, an Iraqi officer said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(02 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi cross the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(03 of20)

Iraq security forces withdraw from Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Sunday, May 17, 2015. Suicide car bomb attacks killed over 10 members of Iraqi security forces Sunday in Ramadi, which now is largely held by the Islamic State group, authorities said. Last week, the militants swept through Ramadi, seizing the main government headquarters and other key parts of the city. It marked a major setback for the Iraqi government's efforts to drive the militants out of areas they seized last year. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(04 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi rest before crossing the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(05 of20)

Iraqi security forces guard displaced Iraqis from Ramadi as they prepare to cross the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(06 of20)

Iraqi security forces guard displaced Iraqis from Ramadi as they cross the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(07 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi rest before crossing the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(08 of20)

Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists during sand storm in the eastern part of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Islamic State extremists tend to take advantage of bad weather when they attack Iraqi security forces positions, an Iraqi officer said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(09 of20)

Iraq security forces withdraw from Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Sunday, May 17, 2015. Suicide car bomb attacks killed over 10 members of Iraqi security forces Sunday in Ramadi, which now is largely held by the Islamic State group, authorities said. Last week, the militants swept through Ramadi, seizing the main government headquarters and other key parts of the city. It marked a major setback for the Iraqi government's efforts to drive the militants out of areas they seized last year. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(10 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi prepare to cross the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(11 of20)

Sunni tribal fighters stand guard on patrol to protect their neighborhoods against Islamic State extremists in al-Baghdadi town west of Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(12 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi rest gather at the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(13 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi cross the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(14 of20)

Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi rest before crossing the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad, as they flee their hometown, 65 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 16, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo/ Hadi Mizban) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(15 of20)

Iraqi family members prepare to leave their hometown of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 15, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(16 of20)

Iraqi family members prepare to leave their hometown of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 15, 2015. Islamic State militants seized the center of Ramadi in western Iraq and raised their black flag over the government compound, local officials said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(17 of20)

An Iraqi Sunni tribal fighter aims his gun to protect the headquarters from an attack by Islamic State extremists during a sand storm in the eastern part of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Islamic State extremists tend to take advantage of bad weather when they attack Iraqi security forces positions, an Iraqi officer said. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(18 of20)

In this Wednesday, May 13, 2015, people from Ramadi live in a camp set up for displaced refugees in Habaniyah, 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(19 of20)

In this Wednesday, May 13, 2015, a man walks through tents at a camp set up for displaced Iraqi refugees including those from Ramadi in Habaniyah, 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(20 of20)

In this Wednesday, May 13, 2015, Hala Hussein, 9, who lost her leg when Islamic State extremists bombed her neighborhood in northern Ramadi, stands outside her family's tent at a camp set up for displaced refugees in Habaniyah, 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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