A BRIT who fled to Syria to join an Islamist-linked group is set to have his UK citizenship STRIPPED from him.
Akif Razaq, who is British-Pakistani, was barred just two days after the Manchester terror attack.
The 30-year-old from Birmingham works for media organisation On The Ground News in Syria.
It is thought to be closely-aligned with al-Qaeda, according to The Times.
An official document, seen by The Times, concluded Razaq is “aligned with an al-Qaeda-aligned group”.
It added that if he returned he would “present a risk to the national security of the United Kingdom”.
Razaq, who is the first Brit to be deprived of their citizenship in two years, denied any involvement in jihadi activity.
He told the paper: “I was shocked, surprised and intrigued.
“I’ve never seen myself as a threat to my home country and it surprised me that others would see me so.
“I would have thought that a solid case was required to deprive me of citizenship.”
He added that he plans to appeal against the decision, issued on May 24.
There is no evidence that Razaq has been involved in fighting in the Middle East.
Brit authorities fear hundreds of Brit jihadis who have travelled to warzones in Iraq, Syria and Libya could try to return and carry out attacks.
Manchester bomber Salman Abedi had recently returned from Libya where ISIS has established a North African base.
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