A British-born member of so-called Islamic State has gone on trial in Virginia on charges of hostage-taking and conspiring to murder journalists and aid workers in Syria.

Prosecutors say El Shafee Elsheikh – nicknamed Jihadi George - was part of a "brutal hostage taking scheme" where captors "seemed to enjoy" beating detainees.

He denies being a member of the terror cell which operated in Iraq and Syria, and whose members were nicknamed "the Beatles" for their British accents.

The group are accused of capturing and beheading journalists and aid workers.

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