Irish Isis fighter 'dies in Iraq suicide bombing'

Kelly was brought up Catholic in central Dublin and converted to Islam in his early thirties

It comes amid reports that, as Iraqi forces advance in on Mosul, it is largely foreign-born jihadis who are choosing to stay and fight (Isis image release)

An Irish Isis fighter, has killed himself in a suicide bombing near the Iraqi city of Mosul, according to reports.

The SITE Intelligence Group, a US company that monitors Islamist websites, said Isis issued a statement stating that Abu Usama al-Irelandi had detonated an explosive-laden vehicle, killing and wounding dozens.

Abu Usama is understood to be the pseudonym used by Irish Islamic State sympathiser Terence Kelly, who is allegedly the man featured in photographs posted on Twitter with a machine gun in front of an armoured car.

Kelly, who has also used the pseudonym Khalid Kelly, was brought up Catholic in central Dublin and converted to Islam in his early thirties in Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a nurse for three years before converting in prison after he was arrested for illegally brewing alcohol, according to Reuters.

The Irishman is said to have repeatedly praised al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden in interviews with the Irish media and was arrested in 2011 for making threats against US President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to Ireland.

Kelly reportedly travelled to Pakistan and later told interviewers that he had trained with militants there.

Ireland's Foreign Ministry said it was looking into reports of an Irish citizen's death, but declined to comment on his identity.

An Irish Foreign Ministry spokesman said: “The department is aware of media reports concerning an Irish citizen in Iraq and is seeking to clarify the situation.”

It comes amid reports that, as Iraqi forces advance in on Mosul, it is largely foreign-born jihadis who are choosing to stay and fight.

A former Jihadi recently told The Independent foreign fighters for Isis were choosing to stand and fight the Iraqi army in east Mosul, while the group’s local militants are crossing the Tigris river with their families to the more defensible western side of the city.