Update: US v. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization, arrived here today in FBI custody on charges related to their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, as well as the deaths of British and Japanese nationals, in Syria.

Former British citizens Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, made their initial appearances here in federal court this evening in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.

The defendants were informed of the charges against them, provided court-appointed defense counsel, and remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals and held pending their next hearing.

The defendants are next scheduled to appear in federal court in Alexandria on Friday. They are each scheduled for a detention hearing at 11 a.m., and an arraignment at 2 p.m.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-239.