Ex-British Army soldier charged with terror offences 'after fighting ISIS with Kurdish fighters in Syria'
AN EX Brit soldier who allegedly went to Syria to fight ISIS has been charged with terrorism offences.
Daniel Burke, 32, is accused of having links with Kurdish YPG fighters and terror group PKK.
He is also accused of preparing for terrorist acts and financing terrorism.
Burke spent around eight months fighting against ISIS with the Kurdish YPG between late 2017 and June 2018 before returning to the UK.
He was investigated by counter-terrorism officers upon his return to the country but no further action was taken against him.
Burke, of Baguley in Wythenshawe, Manchester, was rearrested on December 7 this year in Dover, Kent, by West Midlands Police.
Upon his arrest, he told police: "I'm not a terrorist, you know I'm not a terrorist. I've done nothing but fight for this country. This is a f****** joke."
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Friday charged with two counts of preparing for acts of terrorism .
He is also accused of preparing for terrorist acts and financing terrorism.
The first charge relates to allegedly organising transport for a fellow Brit fighter to travel to Iraq via Spain to rejoin YPG forces, while the second relates to making similar arrangements for himself.
The third charge relates to allegations that he supplied former comrades in the YPG with cash and equipment via platforms such as PayPal.
The court heard Burke was moved to return to Syria following President Donald Trump's decision to pull US forces out of Syria and the subsequent invasion of Kurdish-held areas by Turkey.
Burke served in the Parachute Regiment between 2007 and 2009.
Judge Tan Ikram remanded Burke in custody until his next hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on January 17.
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