Shot dead by soldiers in Idlib
A 22-year-old man, who grew up on an Acton council estate, has been killed in Syria.
According to latest news reports Ali Al-Manasifi - along with two others - was shot dead by Syrian soldiers near Idlib on Wednesday.
Almanasfi - the son of a bus driver - had lived a troubled life in Acton. He'd been involved in street fights with other local gangs, drugs, stealing, and alcohol.
His family were conservative Sunnis from Damascus and his father sent Almanasfi away from Acton - to Syria - in 2008 in a bid to get him to calm down, but it didn't work and upon return he was jailed for attacking an older man.
His friend believes that it was whilst in prison he became interested in religion and decided to join the revolution against President Bashar al-Assad.
In January he left his third-floor flat in Acton which he shared with his mum and disappeared.
Almanasfi was killed together with his two fellow passengers: Islamic convert, Nicole Mansfield from Michigan, and an (as yet) unidentified man.
1st June 2013
