Muslim who studied at Liverpool University killed in Syria

A Muslim from Manchester killed fighting in war-torn Syria was believed to have been a University of Liverpool student.

Anil Khalil Raoufi, 20, died fighting with a militant group in the north of the country.

Raoufi, believed to be a jihadist who went by the name Abu Layth, was reported to be a mechanical engineering student enrolled at the University of Liverpool.

A house linked to him in Manchester was yesterday being searched by the North West counter-terrorism unit.

Detective Chief Inspector Will Chatterton said: “Officers investigating a reported death of a ''British'' citizen in Syria are carrying out a search of a house in Manchester.

“As part of this inquiry, officers are also providing support to the family and are speaking to them to understand how a man from the North West came to be reportedly killed in Syria.”

Neighbours spoke of their shock as police carried on searches at the family's detached home on a quiet, tree- lined street in the affluent Manchester suburb of Didsbury.

Anil’s father runs two restaurants on Manchester’s “Curry Mile” and his mother, Kamala, is a housewife. They are believed to have come to the UK from Afghanistan around 10 years ago.

Social media profiles under the name Abu Layth describe updates from the “frontline” where he details his involvement in fighting “jihad”, or holy war.

“Abu Layth” tweeted frequently and blogged in a guide called “A guiding book, given victory by the sword –updates from the frontline.”

His now-removed Facebook profile told how he was an engineering student at the University of Liverpool.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said they were aware of the reports but were unable to make any comment on the matter.

The University of Liverpool said it did not want to comment while the police investigation was taking place.