A FORMER soldier who recently returned to Scotland after fighting against Islamic State in Syria has been spoken to by police.
Officers from Police Scotland claim Jamie Read, of Newmains, North Lanarkshire, is helping with their inquiries as part of a UK-wide investigation.
Mr Read returned to Heathrow Airport on Tuesday after reportedly helping Kurdish forces battle the terror group following the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.
The 24-year-old and his friend James Hughes, a fellow volunteer fighter, were both subjecting to lengthy questioning by police on their arrival.
Mr Read, who is now staying with his girlfriend in Newmains, is now in contact with the Scottish force.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are in liaison with the Metropolitan Police and other police forces as part of the UK's counter terrorism network, regarding an ongoing investigation into reports of UK nationals engaging in combat in the conflict zone.
"One man, aged 24, from Scotland, has returned to the UK from the area and is currently assisting us with out inquiries."
Mr Read, originally from Cumbria, has indicated that he intends to return to Syria in the New Year as the conflict is "unfinished business".
In an earlier interview he also said he was left "raging" by the police interview at Heathrow Airport, adding: "They kept asking why we went, who we were with and if we were being paid. We weren't, of course."
He has also claimed that Isis are the biggest threat the world faces.
When Mr Read left Scotland, he met up with Mr Hughes and the pair flew from Manchester to Istanbul before making their way to Kobane.
They formed part of a 20-strong group helping the Kurds' Peoples Defence Units, the YPG.
Speaking last weekend, Mr Read said: "I'm a firm believer that if you want to do something you have to do it, not talk about it."
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