This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35219059

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Islamic State 'spy killings' video desperate stuff, says PM Islamic State 'spy killings' video desperate stuff, says PM
(35 minutes later)
A video by so-called Islamic State (IS) featuring a man and young boy with British accents is "desperate stuff", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.A video by so-called Islamic State (IS) featuring a man and young boy with British accents is "desperate stuff", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
The footage, which purportedly shows the killing of five men who IS says were spying for the UK, shows the group is "losing territory" and "increasingly losing anybody's sympathy", he said. The film, which purports to show the killing of five men who IS says were spying for the UK, is from a group that is "losing territory" and "increasingly losing anybody's sympathy", he said.
The UK's intelligence agencies are examining the footage.The UK's intelligence agencies are examining the footage.
Voice-print analysis will be carried out to try to identify the masked man.Voice-print analysis will be carried out to try to identify the masked man.
The man threatens attacks in the UK during the 10-minute film. The man says the 10-minute video - which has not been independently verified - is a message for David Cameron, and he threatens attacks in the UK.
He also says the footage, which has not been independently verified, is a message for Prime Minister David Cameron. On a visit to east London, Mr Cameron said: "It's desperate stuff from an organisation that really does do the most utterly despicable and ghastly acts and people can see that again today.
Mr Cameron's official spokeswoman said the video served as "a reminder of the barbarity of Daesh [IS]". "But this is an organisation that's losing territory, it's losing ground, it's, I think, increasingly losing anybody's sympathy, and this again shows what an appalling organisation we're up against."
She said it was also "a propaganda tool and should be treated as such". He said IS hated the UK for being a "successful, tolerant, democratic, multi-faith, multi-ethnic nation", but added that Britain would "never be cowed".
'Break borders''Break borders'
In the video, the masked man who has a British accent and is holding a gun, mocks Mr Cameron for daring to "challenge the might" of the extremist group.In the video, the masked man who has a British accent and is holding a gun, mocks Mr Cameron for daring to "challenge the might" of the extremist group.
He goes on to say: "We will continue to wage jihad, break borders and one day invade your land where we will rule by the Sharia."He goes on to say: "We will continue to wage jihad, break borders and one day invade your land where we will rule by the Sharia."
The five men, wearing jumpsuits and kneeling in a desert location, then appear to be shot in the back of the head, after making what is claimed to be their confessions.The five men, wearing jumpsuits and kneeling in a desert location, then appear to be shot in the back of the head, after making what is claimed to be their confessions.
One of the men says he had been asked to provide information about the location of IS militants, including two Britons, apparently to help target them with air strikes.One of the men says he had been asked to provide information about the location of IS militants, including two Britons, apparently to help target them with air strikes.
Some of the five say they are from Raqqa in Syria while another says he is from Benghazi, Libya, but none say they are from the UK.Some of the five say they are from Raqqa in Syria while another says he is from Benghazi, Libya, but none say they are from the UK.
After the apparent killings the young boy, who seems to be aged about six or seven years old and is wearing military-style clothing, is seen pointing into the distance and talking about killing "unbelievers".After the apparent killings the young boy, who seems to be aged about six or seven years old and is wearing military-style clothing, is seen pointing into the distance and talking about killing "unbelievers".
'Jihadi John''Jihadi John'
IS has previously released propaganda videos showing killings, including footage showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and two British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.IS has previously released propaganda videos showing killings, including footage showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and two British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.
Mohammed Emwazi, the Briton who became known as Jihadi John, appeared in the videos. The US said he was killed in a drone strike it carried out in Syria in November.Mohammed Emwazi, the Briton who became known as Jihadi John, appeared in the videos. The US said he was killed in a drone strike it carried out in Syria in November.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the actions of the man in the latest video would "probably be a fairly short-lived attempt... to take on the mantle of Mohammed Emwazi". BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the actions of the man in the latest video would "probably be a fairly short-lived attempt... to take on the mantle of Mohammed Emwazi", and showed IS was "absolutely paranoid" about informants.
He says the UK government is unlikely to say who they think he is or confirm whether the men killed in the footage were working for Britain.
"IS is absolutely paranoid about [informants]," our correspondent says.
"They are looking over their shoulders, wondering where the next drone strike is coming from and they are wondering who in their midst is informing and reporting on them.""They are looking over their shoulders, wondering where the next drone strike is coming from and they are wondering who in their midst is informing and reporting on them."
He said the UK government was unlikely to say who they think he is or confirm whether the men killed in the footage were working for Britain.
Voice-print analysis will be used to see if the voice of the man matches that of any individuals known to have travelled to Syria and Iraq.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondentBy Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondent
It is less than two months since British IS propagandist Mohammed Emwazi, the man known as Jihadi John, was killed by a drone strike in Syria.It is less than two months since British IS propagandist Mohammed Emwazi, the man known as Jihadi John, was killed by a drone strike in Syria.
This latest video by IS seems to show another man trying to take up his mantle.This latest video by IS seems to show another man trying to take up his mantle.
The identity of the masked man is so far unknown but authorities will be trying to identify him and confirm if he is British.The identity of the masked man is so far unknown but authorities will be trying to identify him and confirm if he is British.
Emwazi was killed after intelligence - most likely from informers - located him in a vehicle in Raqqa, Syria.Emwazi was killed after intelligence - most likely from informers - located him in a vehicle in Raqqa, Syria.
The fact that this latest video shows the killing of alleged spies indicates the extent to which IS is trying to track down those who might be providing information.The fact that this latest video shows the killing of alleged spies indicates the extent to which IS is trying to track down those who might be providing information.
Children also regularly feature in IS propaganda videos and the brief appearance of a child - apparently with a British accent - at the end of the video will also most likely be of interest to the authorities.Children also regularly feature in IS propaganda videos and the brief appearance of a child - apparently with a British accent - at the end of the video will also most likely be of interest to the authorities.
Abu al-Furat, a member of a Raqqa-based group which opposes IS, told the BBC they doubted the killed men were spying for Britain.Abu al-Furat, a member of a Raqqa-based group which opposes IS, told the BBC they doubted the killed men were spying for Britain.
"And in this video, the executor is trying to copy [Jihadi] John. They want to say that if John died, there are others that can do this job," he said."And in this video, the executor is trying to copy [Jihadi] John. They want to say that if John died, there are others that can do this job," he said.
Margaret Gilmore, senior associate fellow at security think tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the video had "an air of desperation".
"They are trying to detract from recent setbacks," she said, highlighting recent losses in Iraq.
'IS brand''IS brand'
But Shiraz Maher, senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at Kings College London, said the group remained "very powerful".But Shiraz Maher, senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at Kings College London, said the group remained "very powerful".
Jonathan Russell, head of policy at the counter-extremist think tank, the Quilliam Foundation, said it was "shocking" to hear British voices and to see a child in the video, but that both were being used "to reinforce the IS brand".Jonathan Russell, head of policy at the counter-extremist think tank, the Quilliam Foundation, said it was "shocking" to hear British voices and to see a child in the video, but that both were being used "to reinforce the IS brand".
At least 700 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist organisations in Syria and Iraq, British police say. About half have since returned to Britain.At least 700 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist organisations in Syria and Iraq, British police say. About half have since returned to Britain.
The IS group, notorious for its brutality, seized large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it formally declared the establishment of a "caliphate" - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia, by God's deputy on Earth, or caliph.The IS group, notorious for its brutality, seized large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it formally declared the establishment of a "caliphate" - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia, by God's deputy on Earth, or caliph.