David Drugeon

From football matches to international jihad, the 25-year-old Frenchman David Drugeon converted as a teen to Islam and drifted toward ever more radical groups, up until his death in July in a coalition air strike in Syria.

France's scramble to confirm the reported killing in Syria of a key Islamic State recruiter shows the headache authorities face in pinning down evidence of jihadists' deaths, which may be fabricated for strategic reasons, experts say.

From football matches to international jihad, the 25-year-old Frenchman David Drugeon converted as a teen to Islam and drifted toward ever more radical groups, up until his death in July in a coalition air strike in Syria.

France's scramble to confirm the reported killing in Syria of a key Islamic State recruiter shows the headache authorities face in pinning down evidence of jihadists' deaths, which may be fabricated for strategic reasons, experts say.