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COUNTER-TERROR chiefs had Jihadi John under surveillance before he travelled to the Middle East and beheaded two US journalists.

The British killer behind the murders of James Foley and Steven Sotloff was known to MI5 as a low-level collector for genuine Arab charities based in London.

It is believed he moved on to gathering funds for Islamic State warlords before deciding to fight for the twisted cause.

Sources say there is some doubt as to whether the voice in the beheading videos released on the internet is actually the black-clad figure who carries out the killings.

And it is suspected that parts of the grisly films are faked – such as Sotloff’s message to America before being killed.

But Jihadi John is still one of the most wanted men out of the hundreds of Brits on the Iraqi and Syrian frontlines.

MI5 has given a number of briefings to FBI officers currently in the UK seeking information on Jihadi John as they close the net on the brutal executioner.

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A source said: “MI5 has identified this man and they have known exactly who he is for some time. He was even being looked at before he travelled abroad.

"At the time he was considered a very low-level risk because he was merely believed to be making street collections.

“Like so many jihadists before him, he then seems to have become radicalised almost overnight and disappeared to travel to the Middle East.”

It is thought the killer arrived in Syria more than a year ago and was battle-hardened within months.

The Mirror has revealed how up to 30 Brits fighting for IS are desperate to leave but are terrified to come home because they face jail.

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The source said: “Some of these young people have no idea what they are getting into when they travel out there. They could face terrible treatment or worse.

“The longer this goes on the less trusted British fighters will be as some senior commanders will start to suspect they may return to the UK and tell police or MI5 details of operations.

"And that makes them extremely vulnerable.”

Jihadi John is one of a group of four British IS fighters dubbed “The Beatles”.

Experts are said to know the identity of three of them – and are set to swoop on 12 suspects in the UK believed to have provided support for the fanatics.

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Meanwhile David Cameron told MPs today that Britain will directly arm the Kurds.

The RAF has been flying Albanian ammunition to Peshmerga fighters who are holding back Isis fanatics in northern Iraq. They will now get British weapons, ammunition and training.

The Prime Minister said: “I have always said we would respond positively to requests from them for the direct supply and we are now prepared to do that and so will be providing them with arms, as the Germans and others will.

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“Also with allies, we think it’s right to step up our training and mentoring efforts and so we’ve said we would be willing if they would like to train a battalion of Peshmerga fighters because they are doing such a vital job.”

Mr Cameron also revealed that he had spoken to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about forging an international alliance against the terrorist state.

US President Barack Obama is expected to present a new strategy for taking on Isis to the UN General Assembly later this month.

That could include more air strikes, which Mr Cameron has refused to rule out joining.