An American who had converted from Christianity to Islam was found to have died while fighting for the Islamic State, often known as ISIS or ISIL, during a battle in Syria between ISIS and another terrorist group, according to the Free Syrian Army. A distinctive tattoo on his neck found on his corpse, as well as the same tattoo found on his passport picture and photos in social media have confirmed his identity.
Douglas McCain, 33, told his family that he would be traveling to Turkey, which is a common route that many jihadis take to transition into the Middle East, reported NBC.
McCain's cousin, named Kenyata, told Religion News, "I know that he had strong Muslim beliefs, but I didn't know he was in support if ISIS. I didn't think he would be."
Although family members were aware of his conversion to Islam, they were unaware of the fact that McCain had been supportive of ISIS and that he had joined the militants.
McCain, however, is not the first American to have died supporting the Islamic State. Money Mohammed Abusalha died in July carrying out a suicide bombing. Abusalha was a Florida resident.
Concerns about Westerners being involved in ISIS has been increasing, as these two incidents along with speculation that the man who killed journalist James Foley is a British man have been overlapping. Attorney General Eric Holder said that an estimated 7,000 foreigners are fighting alongside ISIS and Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the State Department, estimated that "perhaps up to 100" of them are American, according to a KTLA report.
"The threat we are most concerned about to the homeland is that of fighters like this returning to the U.S. and committing acts of terrorism," a senior administration official told NBC.
"We continue to use every tool we possess to disrupt and dissuade individuals from traveling abroad for violent jihad and to track and engage those who return," stated Caitlyn Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council.
