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'Islamic State' video scrutinised by UK security services | 'Islamic State' video scrutinised by UK security services |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK's security and intelligence agencies are examining a video by so-called Islamic State, to identify a man and young boy with British accents. | The UK's security and intelligence agencies are examining a video by so-called Islamic State, to identify a man and young boy with British accents. |
The video purportedly shows the killing of five men who IS says were spying for the UK. | The video purportedly shows the killing of five men who IS says were spying for the UK. |
The authorities will also be carrying out voice-print analysis to match what is heard against individuals known to have travelled to Iraq and Syria. | The authorities will also be carrying out voice-print analysis to match what is heard against individuals known to have travelled to Iraq and Syria. |
The man threatens attacks in the UK, during the 10-minute film. | The man threatens attacks in the UK, during the 10-minute film. |
He also says the footage, which has not been independently verified, is a message for Prime Minister David Cameron. | He also says the footage, which has not been independently verified, is a message for Prime Minister David Cameron. |
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". |
'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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the video and are examining its content." | A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the video and are examining its content." |
'Jihadi John replacement' | 'Jihadi John replacement' |
IS has previously released 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. He was killed in a drone strike in Syria in November. | Mohammed Emwazi, the Briton who became known as Jihadi John, appeared in the videos. He was killed in a drone strike in Syria in November. |
This new video shows "something of a replacement" for him, says BBC World Service Middle East editor Alan Johnston. | This new video shows "something of a replacement" for him, says BBC World Service Middle East editor Alan Johnston. |
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner 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." | |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondent | By 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. |
The BBC's Alan Johnston adds the men purportedly killed in the video appear to be "speaking under the most extraordinary duress" and "may be entirely innocent". | The BBC's Alan Johnston adds the men purportedly killed in the video appear to be "speaking under the most extraordinary duress" and "may be entirely innocent". |
He also says the release of the video comes in the aftermath of a "major military setback for IS" after it recently lost control of much of the Iraqi city of Ramadi. | He also says the release of the video comes in the aftermath of a "major military setback for IS" after it recently lost control of much of the Iraqi city of Ramadi. |
"It's possible this is aimed at distracting attention from that defeat - an effort to shock watching Westerners and shift their focus," he adds. | "It's possible this is aimed at distracting attention from that defeat - an effort to shock watching Westerners and shift their focus," he adds. |
'IS brand' | |
Margaret Gilmore, senior associate fellow at security think tank the Royal United Services Institute, told BBC Radio 5 live there was "an air of desperation" about the video. | |
"They are trying to detract from recent setbacks," she said. | |
But Shiraz Maher, senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at Kings College London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The group is still very powerful, I think it is going to be around for quite some time." | |
Jonathan Russell, head of policy at the Quilliam Foundation think tank, 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 Quilliam Foundation think tank, 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". |
He also said such actions were "projecting falsehoods" and did not "offer anything to potential recruits here in the West". | He also said such actions were "projecting falsehoods" and did not "offer anything to potential recruits here in the West". |
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. |