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| 'Jihadi John': US air strike targets Islamic State militant in Syria | 'Jihadi John': US air strike targets Islamic State militant in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US forces have carried out an air strike targeting the Islamic State group militant "Jihadi John", with a "high degree of certainty" he was hit. | US forces have carried out an air strike targeting the Islamic State group militant "Jihadi John", with a "high degree of certainty" he was hit. |
| Mohammed Emwazi, the Kuwaiti-born British militant, appeared in videos of the beheadings of Western hostages. | Mohammed Emwazi, the Kuwaiti-born British militant, appeared in videos of the beheadings of Western hostages. |
| It is believed there was at least one other person in the vehicle targeted in the attack near Raqqa, in Syria. | It is believed there was at least one other person in the vehicle targeted in the attack near Raqqa, in Syria. |
| The UK government said it was "working hand in glove with the Americans" to "hunt down those murdering hostages". | The UK government said it was "working hand in glove with the Americans" to "hunt down those murdering hostages". |
| A US official told the BBC Emwazi had been "tracked carefully over a period of time". | A US official told the BBC Emwazi had been "tracked carefully over a period of time". |
| Another senior military source said there was a "high degree of certainty" he had been killed, while another source said: "It was a great hit." | Another senior military source said there was a "high degree of certainty" he had been killed, while another source said: "It was a great hit." |
| Who is Mohammed Emwazi? | Who is Mohammed Emwazi? |
| 'Jihadi John' movement mapped | 'Jihadi John' movement mapped |
| Emwazi 'claimed harassment' | Emwazi 'claimed harassment' |
| A drone was used in the attack, according to a US official quoted by the Associated Press news agency. | A drone was used in the attack, according to a US official quoted by the Associated Press news agency. |
| A formal statement from the Pentagon stopped short of asserting that Emwazi had definitely been killed, adding that it was assessing the operation. | A formal statement from the Pentagon stopped short of asserting that Emwazi had definitely been killed, adding that it was assessing the operation. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make a statement later on Friday. | Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make a statement later on Friday. |
| "The prime minister has said before that tracking down these brutal murderers was a top priority," a spokesperson said. | "The prime minister has said before that tracking down these brutal murderers was a top priority," a spokesperson said. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
| As the militant who sadistically murdered Western aid workers and journalists on camera, Mohammed Emwazi became a top target for US and British intelligence agencies, even though he is thought to have played no military role within Islamic State. | As the militant who sadistically murdered Western aid workers and journalists on camera, Mohammed Emwazi became a top target for US and British intelligence agencies, even though he is thought to have played no military role within Islamic State. |
| After his identity was revealed in February, Emwazi largely stayed out of sight, taking particular care not to leave a digital trail to his whereabouts. | After his identity was revealed in February, Emwazi largely stayed out of sight, taking particular care not to leave a digital trail to his whereabouts. |
| But GCHQ, the UK government's communications headquarters, has expended enormous efforts to intercept and decipher any encrypted messages that might reveal his location or those of his associates. | But GCHQ, the UK government's communications headquarters, has expended enormous efforts to intercept and decipher any encrypted messages that might reveal his location or those of his associates. |
| Emwazi is believed to have travelled to Syria in 2013 and later joined Islamic State militants. | Emwazi is believed to have travelled to Syria in 2013 and later joined Islamic State militants. |
| He first appeared in a video in August last year, when footage was posted online showing the murder of US journalist James Foley. | He first appeared in a video in August last year, when footage was posted online showing the murder of US journalist James Foley. |
| He was later pictured in the videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and UK taxi driver Alan Henning, as well as American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known as Peter, and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. | He was later pictured in the videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and UK taxi driver Alan Henning, as well as American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known as Peter, and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. |
| In each of the videos, the militant appeared dressed in a black robe with a black balaclava covering his face. | In each of the videos, the militant appeared dressed in a black robe with a black balaclava covering his face. |
| Initially dubbed "Jihadi John" by the media, he was subsequently named as Emwazi, from west London, in February. | Initially dubbed "Jihadi John" by the media, he was subsequently named as Emwazi, from west London, in February. |
| Mohammed Emwazi | Mohammed Emwazi |
| Source: Cage, London-based campaign group | Source: Cage, London-based campaign group |
| Security analyst Charlie Winter said that if Emwazi's death is confirmed, it could affect those wanting to join Islamic State "out of a sense of adventure". | |
| He added: "They want to go and find a collective group where they can be part of something bigger. But they also don't want to die." | He added: "They want to go and find a collective group where they can be part of something bigger. But they also don't want to die." |
| Earlier this year, details emerged about how Emwazi made a number of journeys abroad before he left for Syria in 2013. | Earlier this year, details emerged about how Emwazi made a number of journeys abroad before he left for Syria in 2013. |
| They included a trip to Tanzania in August 2009, when he is believed to have first became known to security services in the UK. | They included a trip to Tanzania in August 2009, when he is believed to have first became known to security services in the UK. |
| His naming this year led to a row over the cause of his radicalisation, with British advocacy group Cage suggesting that contact with MI5 may have contributed to it. | His naming this year led to a row over the cause of his radicalisation, with British advocacy group Cage suggesting that contact with MI5 may have contributed to it. |
| However, Downing Street said that suggestion was "completely reprehensible", with Mr Cameron defending the UK's security services. | However, Downing Street said that suggestion was "completely reprehensible", with Mr Cameron defending the UK's security services. |
| Mohammed Emwazi's movements before heading to Syria | Mohammed Emwazi's movements before heading to Syria |
| Source: Cage | Source: Cage |