IS fighters convicted of involvement in the murder of four Americans

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal jury on Thursday convicted a British Islamic State fighter of being part of a brutal cell that murdered American hostages, giving US prosecutors a victory and smacking victims’ families, who had long sought justice a degree of relief came from the closely watched terrorism case.

The jury deliberated only four hours before finding El Shafie Elsheikh guilty on eight counts, including kidnapping resulting in death, conspiracy to murder Americans outside the United States, and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. Prosecutors tried to show that Mr Elsheikh belonged to a group of British guards known to foreign prisoners as the “Beatles” who were feared for their wanton cruelty, including vicious beatings that often left hostages with broken ribs.