Al-Qaeda propaganda films star 'is British son of Hollywood director'

Lucas Kinney, now known as Abu Basir al-Britani, is said to have joined the terrorist group in Syria in 2013

Lucas Kinney appearing in al-Qaeda propaganda videos (YouTube)

The British son of a Hollywood director has reportedly become the star of al-Qaeda recruitment videos in Syria.

Lucas Kinney, 26, who now refers to himself as Abu Basir al-Britani, was born in Hammersmith, London, to a British mother and a British-American father.

His father, Patrick Kinney, worked as an assistant director on several Hollywood blockbusters, including Out Of Africa, Braveheart and Cry Freedom.

Mr Kinney’s mother, Deborah Phipps, told the MailOnline that she feared her son could be the next Briton killed by a RAF drone strike or Russian bombardment - or that he could become a suicide bomber.

Lucas Kinney's mother said he was radicalised while living in Vienna (YouTube)

She said her son had been raised as Catholic and had even talked of becoming a priest when he was a teenager.

Mrs Phipps, who now lives with her second husband in the West Country, said: "I last heard from him recently. I don't get anything for months and months and then all of a sudden I get an email and every time I think, 'Well, at least he's still alive'. That's the relief.

"He's married out there. I don't know anything about her. They don't have any children as far as I know, but this is recent, the last few months.

"We just want him to come home. If he's done something wrong I'd like him to accept the consequences. He's still young – and at least he's still alive."

Mr Kinney moved around during his youth, living in Saudi Arabia until the 9/11 attacks, and then moved to Cairo before going to the University of Leeds.

He dropped out after a year and went to live with his father in Vienna - where it is believed he was radicalised - and he travelled to Syria in 2013.

Mrs Phipps said "everything changed" when he went to Vienna and although he did not say he was becoming a Muslim, it was obvious from their Skype conversations.

It comes as the UK government was criticised for authorising an RAF drone strike on British citizens who had been fighting with al-Qaeda’s rival, Isis.

Reyaad Khan and Junaid Hussain were killed in August where the car they were travelling in was hit by a Hellfire missile.

Defending the decision in Parliament in September, David Cameron said the action was taken because "there was no alternative" and the risk to Britain from Islamist extremist violence is "more acute today than ever before".