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| Isis: Fake propaganda statement sparks false reports of leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's 'death in US air strikes' | Isis: Fake propaganda statement sparks false reports of leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's 'death in US air strikes' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fake reports of the death of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi are spreading as the terrorist group continues battles to hold territory in Syria and Iraq. | Fake reports of the death of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi are spreading as the terrorist group continues battles to hold territory in Syria and Iraq. |
| Media outlets in Iran, Iraq, Russia and Turkey appeared to have fallen for a digitally altered image claiming to be a media statement from the so-called Islamic State. | Media outlets in Iran, Iraq, Russia and Turkey appeared to have fallen for a digitally altered image claiming to be a media statement from the so-called Islamic State. |
| The supposed missive was quoted as saying: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed by coalition air strikes on Raqqa on the fifth day of Ramadan (10 June).” | The supposed missive was quoted as saying: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed by coalition air strikes on Raqqa on the fifth day of Ramadan (10 June).” |
| The report spread around the world as it was picked up by media in India, the UK and elsewhere but was swiftly discredited, while conflicting accounts said al-Baghdadi had been injured in an air strike on his convoy in Iraq. | The report spread around the world as it was picked up by media in India, the UK and elsewhere but was swiftly discredited, while conflicting accounts said al-Baghdadi had been injured in an air strike on his convoy in Iraq. |
| There was no statement from Isis via its Amaq news agency, which it used to claim responsibility for the Orlando massacre and stabbing in Paris. | There was no statement from Isis via its Amaq news agency, which it used to claim responsibility for the Orlando massacre and stabbing in Paris. |
| News bulletins from Isis’ al-Bayan radio station also had no mention of an air strike affecting its self-declared “caliph”. | News bulletins from Isis’ al-Bayan radio station also had no mention of an air strike affecting its self-declared “caliph”. |
| There have been several false reports of al-Baghdadi’s death in the past, although he was said to be severely injured in air strikes early last year. | There have been several false reports of al-Baghdadi’s death in the past, although he was said to be severely injured in air strikes early last year. |
| A spokesperson for US Central Command, which is co-ordinating air strikes in Iraq and Syria, told The Independent it was aware of media reports but had no information to provide. | |
| The American Department of Defense routinely announces successful strikes targeting high-profile extremists swiftly, such as in the death of "Jihadi John" in Syria and Afghan Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour. | |
| Isis is currently facing an advance from both rebels and the Syrian army near its de-facto capital of Raqqa and is fighting to hold the Iraqi city of Fallujah, as well as its Libyan stronghold of Sirte. | Isis is currently facing an advance from both rebels and the Syrian army near its de-facto capital of Raqqa and is fighting to hold the Iraqi city of Fallujah, as well as its Libyan stronghold of Sirte. |