Body is found in hunt for missing British volunteer fighter who went missing in Ukraine amid fears he had been murdered by fellow foreign legion soldiers in row over money
- Body found in hunt for Briton Daniel Burke, 36, who was fighting in Ukraine
- Ukraine cops informed Greater Manchester Police about the ex-paratrooper
- READ MORE: Two UK fighters in Ukraine may have been murdered by comrades
A body has been found in the hunt for British volunteer fighter Daniel Burke who went missing in Ukraine amid fears he had been murdered by fellow foreign legion soldiers in an alleged row over money.
Ukrainian authorities informed police officers searching for missing Mr Burke, 36, that they had found a body.
The former paratrooper, from South Manchester was reported missing on August 16 this year by his family after they had not heard from him, after he had travelled to Ukraine.
Greater Manchester Police said officers are working with the family of the deceased and the Ukrainian authorities to support the identification of Mr Burke and bring him back to the UK.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, the force’s lead for disaster victim identification said: ‘This is an upsetting time for Daniel’s family, we have Family Liaison Officers in contact with the family and offering support.’
A body has been found in the hunt for Daniel Burke (pictured), a former paratrooper who went to fight in Ukraine as a volunteer last year
Daniel Burke set up his own volunteer unit in Ukraine called the Dark Angels (pictured)
The detective added: ‘My team and I are working with the Ukrainian authorities to make formal identification with a view to repatriating Daniel following that process.
‘Daniel’s family have asked for privacy at this difficult time.’
READ MORE: Two British volunteer fighters in Ukraine may have been murdered by fellow ‘foreign legion’ fighters following ‘disputes over money and petty arguments’
Mr Burke went to fight in Ukraine as a volunteer last year, and then vanished from his flat in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on August 11.
It was feared that he could have been killed not by Russian soldiers, but by his fellow foreign legion fighters because of reported disputes and jealousy over the amount of money he was receiving in donations.
Ukrainian police combed the fields of Komyshuvakha village on the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia for any sign of Burke’s body.
Ukrainian police, already struggling with a heavy caseload since the war began, were investigating claims that Burke could have been killed following disputes over money.
Burke, who had served in Afghanistan with the British army before fighting against ISIS with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, had travelled to Ukraine to fight as a volunteer last year.
He had told fellow fighters that he was receiving £8,000 a month from American millionaires in donations thanks to his public profile – and there are fears this could have sparked envy among the troops.
It was also reported that police were analysing CCTV footage of Burke’s movements in a car that his friend, Australian volunteer Norine Abdelfetah, had lent him on the day he disappeared.
Abdelfetah told police he had dropped Burke off at his apartment on August 11 and had lent the Briton his car for the weekend after he complained about having food poisoning, reports the Telegraph.
The Australian said there was no sign of Burke when he came to collect the car two days later, and a day later, Adbelfetah’s colleague, James Sutton, told police.
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