Family hope as ‘severed head’ terrorist killed in Iraq

Reports that an Australian terrorist, notorious for holding up the severed heads of Syrian victims, has been killed fighting in Iraq have raised the potential for his young family to be repatriated from the Middle East, Australia’s foreign minister said.

Australian intelligence agencies were attempting to verify the recent deaths of Australians Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar in the IS-held city of Mosul in Iraq, foreign minister Julie Bishop said.

Both men were seen in photographs posted on social media holding heads of Syrians.