The Independent newspaper published a report claiming that a former rapper fighting with the Islamic State in Syria is believed to be one of several British jihadists under investigation following the beheading of James Foley.

The British daily noted that Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 24, was known as L Jinny or Lyricist Jinn at home in London, where his rising music career saw him appear in videos and have his singles played on BBC Radio in 2012.

According to the newspaper, Bary had come to national attention early 2014 when he posted a picture of himself holding a severed head on Twitter.

Believed to have been taken in the Isis stronghold of Raqqa, Bary reportedly captioned the horrid picture: "Chillin' with my homie or what's left of him."

Bary reportedly travelled to the country last year from Maida Vale, west London, where he lived with his mother and five siblings.

His father Adel Abdul Bary, an Egyptian refugee is, according to the newspaper, thought to be one of Osama Bin Laden's closest lieutenants.

Bary senior was extradited from Britain to the United States on charges of terrorism in 2012 for his alleged roles in the bombings of two US embassies in east Africa in 1998.