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Britain studies latest Islamic State group video threat UK’s Cameron dismisses latest Islamic State extremist video
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — British security officials are studying an Islamic State group video that threatens more action against the United Kingdom. LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday dismissed a new video in which five purported British spies are shot dead by masked Islamic State extremists as propaganda from a group that is losing control of territory in Syria and Iraq.
Officials are looking for clues Monday about the identity of a masked man who speaks with a British accent on the video before shooting a purported British spy in the head. Four others accused of spying for Britain are also shot dead by other masked figures who do not speak. “It’s desperate stuff from an organization that really does do the most utterly despicable and ghastly acts and people can see that again today,” he said. “But this is an organization that’s losing territory, it’s losing ground, it’s, I think, increasingly losing anybody’s sympathy, and this again shows what an appalling organization we’re up against.”
The masked man, occasionally pointing a gun at the camera for emphasis, vows the extremists will soon invade Britain and establish Shariah law. British security officials are studying the video for clues about the identity of a masked man who speaks with a British accent on the video before shooting a captive in the head. The masked man, occasionally pointing a gun at the camera for emphasis, vows the extremists will soon invade Britain and establish Shariah law.
The anti-British propaganda video is the first to surface from the Islamic State extremists since Britain’s Parliament approved Cameron’s December request for authorization to launch airstrikes against IS positions in Syria. The masked figure characterizes Prime Minister David Cameron as an “imbecile.” The masked figure is an apparent IS replacement for Mohammed Emwazi, the British-accented man known as “Jihadi John,” who was killed in a drone strike in Syria in November. The British-born Muslim had figured prominently in earlier IS beheading videos.
Cameron’s spokeswoman, Helen Bower, would not say whether Cameron had seen the video. She said British intelligence services were working to identify the masked militant and a young child who appears in the video. The anti-British propaganda video is the first to surface from the Islamic State extremists since Britain’s Parliament approved Cameron’s December request for authorization to launch airstrikes against IS positions in Syria.
Bower said the video is “propaganda . and should be treated as such.” The extremist group has recently lost control of the Iraqi city of Ramadi after an Iraqi military assault backed by U.S. airpower.
Bower declined to comment on the allegation that the five men who were killed were British spies. Cameron’s spokeswoman, Helen Bower, said Britain’s security forces are scrutinizing the video.
“We are examining the content of the video and the prime minister is being kept updated on that,” she said. “It serves as a reminder of the barbarity of Daesh (Islamic State) and what the world faces with these terrorists. It is also clearly a propaganda tool, and should be treated as such.”
Asked about the claim the five men executed were British spies, she said: “This does appear to be a propaganda tool and not all of ISIL’s propaganda in the past has been true.”
The 10-minute video concludes with footage of a young boy of about 4 or 5 who threatens Britons.The 10-minute video concludes with footage of a young boy of about 4 or 5 who threatens Britons.
The extremists frequently use children in propaganda videos. The extremists frequently use children in propaganda videos, said Olivier Guitta, director of the consulting group GlabalStrat.
“It shows that the new generation is already part of the fight,” said Olivier Guitta, director of the consulting group GlabalStrat, “It shows that the new generation is already part of the fight,” he said.
The video circulated Sunday features an apparent IS replacement for Mohammed Emwazi, the British-accented man known as “Jihadi John,” who was killed in a drone strike in Syria in November. He had figured prominently in earlier IS propaganda videos.
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Associated Press writer Jill Lawless contributed.Associated Press writer Jill Lawless contributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.