British fighter in Ukraine ‘shot dead by comrade nicknamed Jihadi Adam’

Daniel Burke’s remains were found with multiple gunshot wounds a month after he went missing in Ukraine (Picture: PA)

A former British paratrooper who fought on the frontlines in Ukraine was shot dead by a ‘comrade nicknamed Jihadi Adam,’ an inquest has found.

Daniel Burke, from Manchester, had travelled to the war-torn nation to give medical assistance to soldiers fighting against Vladimir Putin’s forces.

The 36-year-old vanished in August 11, and his remains were discovered in a drain a month later, with multiple gunshot wounds in his head, lower neck and chest.

Manchester Coroner’s Court was told on Friday that a ‘suspect’ had led the Ukrainian authorities to his body, claiming he had shot him by accident.

The man was not named during the hearing but he is known by Greater Manchester Police to be Abdelfetah Nourine, also known as Jihadi Adam.

Coroner Zak Golombek said: ‘Daniel was unlawfully killed by someone who purported to be his friend. He died with bravery and valour, but was killed by cowardice and dishonour.’

The 36-year-old former soldier from Manchester had travelled to Ukraine to give medical assistance on the frontline (Picture: PA)

He added: ‘Daniel was unarmed and unable to defend himself and was killed by multiple gunshot wounds.’

Ukrainian authorities investigating the death of the former soldier in the Parachute Regiment found he had been at a target practice away from the frontline with Mr Nourine, an Australian-Algerian dual national.

Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant told the inquest Mr Burke had set up company Dark Angels, a group of military personnel who went to the front to evacuate the injured.

Mr Nourine had been working with the British volunteer in Ukraine and they were ‘comrades,’ the hearing was told.

On the day of his disappearance, CCTV showed him spending the day with the suspect, and in the late afternoon travelling to an abandoned training ground.

Mr Burke formerly served in the Parachute Regiment (Picture: MEN Media)

As part of police investigations after Mr Burke went missing the suspect was interviewed and gave separate versions of events, the inquest heard.

Initially he claimed he had left the area with the victim, but said he could not be seen on CCTV in the vehicle because he was lying down as he was unwell with food poisoning.

However, he later led police to the body and told them he had accidentally killed his comrade during a training exercise.

He claimed he had fired at least two shots – one accidentally while he was carrying Mr Burke in a training exercise and a second for unknown reasons.

The court heard a forensic post-mortem examination found Mr Burke had been shot at least three times.

His family are still searching for answers about what really happened (Picture: MEN Media)

Ms Bullivant said results of ballistics investigations done in Ukraine suggested it was impossible to accidentally fire the weapon, an AKS74U.

It is understood that Mr Nourine was held briefly but had since fled Ukraine and his whereabouts are currently unknown.

The inquest was told he had previously travelled to Syria to fight against so-called Islamic State, after being ‘heavily affected’ by events in Manchester in May 2017, when 22 people were killed in the Manchester Arena bombing.

He had also been ‘in and out’ of Ukraine, travelling there for the final time in May 2023.

Ms Bullivant told the court: ‘I think it is something Daniel was passionate about doing.’

In 2019 he was accused of terror offences after travelling to Syria, but the charges were dropped the following year.

During the inquest, Mr Burke’s brother Kevin asked whether Mr Nourine may have fought on the opposing side to him in Syria.

He said: ‘There’s so many different stories but that is one of the stories.’

Ms Bullivant said police had no intelligence to suggest the two had met before working together in Ukraine.

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