Foley killer 'will be identified' says ex-MI6 chief

A former head of counter-terrorism at MI6 has said that the man who killed the US journalist James Foley will be identified.

Richard Barrett told the Today programme that "they will be able to identify him, although there are four or 500 people who have gone from all over the United Kingdom many of them have made their presence there known, and I think the community will be able recognise this person and I am sure many in the community will be keen to do so...

"I mean the intelligence community certainly but also the community from which this man comes."

Mr Barrett added that once a positive identification is made, special forces will probably be sent to Syria to find and capture the man.

"It not just a matter of going along and arresting him and bringing him to trial, there are huge problems involved, international problems involved… but there is a course of action that can be taken and once he has been identified that become a bit easier and clearer."

He explained: "I don't think anyone is prepared to forget this sort of crime and therefore the long arm of justice will eventually catch him."

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday 21 August.