Turkey detains man reportedly linked to Jihadi John

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Turkish official says authorities in Turkey have detained a man they suspect is linked to Mohammed Emwazi, the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John," the Associated Press reports.

The official said Friday, November 13, the man, who they strongly believe to be Aine Lesley Davis, was detained in Istanbul, without providing further details. Authorities were still investigating to confirm his identity "one hundred percent," the official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules that bar civil servants from speaking to journalists without prior authorization.

The United States announced on Friday, it was "reasonably certain" a drone strike in Syria had killed Jihadi John, a British citizen who became the public face of Islamic State and a symbol of its brutality after appearing in hostage execution videos.

U.S. and British officials welcomed the apparent success of the operation targeting Mohammed Emwazi, saying his death, if confirmed, would be a big blow to Islamic State's image and prestige even though Emwazi was not a significant tactical or operational figure in the militant group.

The U.S.-British missile strike believed to have killed Emwazi was months in preparation but came together at lightning speed shortly before midnight on Thursday, as two U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones and one British MQ-9 cruised above the Syrian town of Raqqa, officials said.