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Islamist militants 'kill reporter James Foley on video' Islamist militants 'kill reporter James Foley on video'
(35 minutes later)
The Islamic State militant group has released a video online purporting to show the beheading of a US journalist. The Islamic State militant group has released a video online purporting to show the beheading of US journalist James Foley, missing since 2012.
The victim was identified by the militants as James Foley, a freelancer who was seized in Syria in late 2012. The militants said the killing was revenge for US air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq.
The militants said it was in revenge for recent US air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq. Foley's mother Diane said on Facebook she was proud of her son: "He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people."
The video has not been independently verified, but the White House said if it was genuine, the US would be "appalled by the brutal murder". The White House said if the video was genuine, the US would be "appalled".
Foley's family wrote on Facebook: "We know that many of you are looking for confirmation or answers. Please be patient until we all have more information, and keep the Foleys in your thoughts and prayers."
Foley has reported extensively across the Middle East, working for America's Global Post and other media outlets including the French news agency AFP.Foley has reported extensively across the Middle East, working for America's Global Post and other media outlets including the French news agency AFP.
'Second prisoner''Second prisoner'
In the video titled A Message to America, a man who appears to be James Foley is dressed in orange kneeling in desert-like terrain beside an armed man dressed in black.In the video titled A Message to America, a man who appears to be James Foley is dressed in orange kneeling in desert-like terrain beside an armed man dressed in black.
The militant, who speaks with a British accent and identifies himself as an IS member, says the journalist's death is the direct result of US bombing of IS targets in Iraq.The militant, who speaks with a British accent and identifies himself as an IS member, says the journalist's death is the direct result of US bombing of IS targets in Iraq.
In a statement, the Global Post ask for "prayers for Jim and his family", adding that it was waiting for the video to be verified. In a statement, the Global Post asked for "prayers for Jim and his family", adding that it was waiting for the video to be verified.
In a 2012 interview with the BBC, Foley described his motivation for covering conflicts.In a 2012 interview with the BBC, Foley described his motivation for covering conflicts.
"I'm drawn to the drama of the conflict and trying to expose untold stories," he said."I'm drawn to the drama of the conflict and trying to expose untold stories," he said.
"There's extreme violence, but there's a will to find who these people really are... And I think that's what's really inspiring about it." "There's extreme violence, but there's a will to find who these people really are... And I think that's what's really inspiring about it".
Foley was also briefly detained in Libya in 2011.Foley was also briefly detained in Libya in 2011.
US officials confirmed that they had seen the video and were trying to establish its authenticity.US officials confirmed that they had seen the video and were trying to establish its authenticity.
President Barack Obama had also been informed.President Barack Obama had also been informed.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends."White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends."
The footage claimed to have been released by the IS also shows another prisoner identified by the militants as an American reporter.The footage claimed to have been released by the IS also shows another prisoner identified by the militants as an American reporter.
IS supporters have recently threatened to attack American citizens, saying: "We will drown all of you in blood." Mrs Foley, in her Facebook post, urged the militants to free any other hostages.
"Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world," she wrote.
The militant group has been accused of massacring hundreds of people in areas under their control in Iraq and also in eastern Syria.The militant group has been accused of massacring hundreds of people in areas under their control in Iraq and also in eastern Syria.
The violence has displaced an estimated 1.2 million people in Iraq. The violence has displaced an estimated 1.2 million people in Iraq alone.
Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics.Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics.