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British journalist John Cantlie appears in new Isis video British journalist John Cantlie appears in new Isis video
(about 11 hours later)
A new video purporting to show British war photographer John Cantlie has appeared online in which he mocks the US president, Barack Obama. John Cantlie, the British journalist held hostage in Iraq, has appeared in a new video made by Islamic State and posted online. He appeared to be in Mosul, is shown as if presenting a news report and follows a script that ridicules the US strategy to tackle the extremist group.
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It is the first time in more than a year that Cantlie, who was captured by Islamic State (Isis) in Syria in 2012, has been seen alive. Cantlie is shown standing by bombed-out shelters near a main road, asking why the US uses planes to destroy kiosks that are used to distribute Isis propaganda pamphlets and cost “about $50 to build”. Addressing the camera as if presenting a television programme, he says: “After 20 months and $5bn, America has successfully destroyed an Islamic State media kiosk.
The photojournalist, who has fronted a series of videos for Isis while a hostage, appears gaunt as he ridicules US attempts to destroy the terrorist group. “If this is what Obama meant about degrading and ultimately destroying Isis, he’s clearly got a long way to go yet. And you know what’s really just amazing, given the amount of money that America is spending on this war, it would go to the effort of destroying a small shack like this, in the middle of Mosul.”
His supporters swiftly dismissed the film, which is dated Saturday but has not been verified, saying: “His words are not those of a free man.” They also questioned when it was made. He suggests the kiosk, which cost $50 (£35), to build was targeted because the US is “bankrupt of intelligence” on Isis targets.
The Foreign Office said it was “looking at the contents of this latest propaganda video”. The clip lasts just over three minutes and ends with Cantlie in mid-sentence. The 46-year-old appears gaunt and pale in black clothing. Cantlie was last seen when a previous video was released by Isis in February 2015.
The clip, which first appeared on Twitter, shows the journalist clad in black as he walks around a bomb-damaged building he claims is in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The Hampshire-born reporter was kidnapped in Syria in November 2012, on his second visit to report on the country’s war, alongside American James Foley, who was later killed on camera by Isis. He has been used to front several films and he writes a column in the Isis magazine Dabiq, in which he veers between attacking and praising his captors. Cantlie’s father, Paul, died in 2014, after pleading for his son’s freedom. His sister, Jessica, has attacked the government’s inability to bring him home.
Filmed in daylight, Cantlie is standing beside a road busy with traffic and a number of people can be seen walking by in the background. Rita Katz, of SITE intelligence group, said she thought the video referred to US raids on Thursday. The Foreign Office said yesterday it was “looking at the contents of this latest video”.
Addressing the camera as if presenting a television programme, he says: “After 20 months and $5bn, America has successfully destroyed an Islamic State media kiosk. Isis group are thought to be holding at least six hostages, including Cantlie, in Iraq and Syria.
“If this is what Obama meant about degrading and ultimately destroying Isis, he’s clearly got a long way to go yet.
“And you know what’s really just amazing, given the amount of money that America is spending on this war, it would go to the effort of destroying a small shack like this, in the middle of Mosul.”
He suggests the kiosk, which cost 50 dollars (£35), to build was targeted because the US is “bankrupt of intelligence” on Isis targets.
Cantlie’s skills as a journalist have been exploited by Isis in an attempt to lend credibility to propaganda films, including a series titled Lend Me Your Ears.
The last was released in November 2014.
Hala Jaber, a journalist, tweeted: “Worth remembering that whatever #John-Cantlie says, he is & remains a hostage and that his words are not those of a free man.”
Cantlie’s sister Jessica has previously appealed for “direct contact” with the militants holding him. His father Paul died aged 80 from complications following pneumonia in 2014.