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| James Foley 'beheaded': Isis video shows militant with British accent 'execute US journalist' – and warns Obama of more to come | James Foley 'beheaded': Isis video shows militant with British accent 'execute US journalist' – and warns Obama of more to come |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Militants from the Islamic State have released a video showing a jihadist speaking with a British accent beheading an American journalist in what it says is a revenge killing for the ongoing US air strikes in Iraq. | Militants from the Islamic State have released a video showing a jihadist speaking with a British accent beheading an American journalist in what it says is a revenge killing for the ongoing US air strikes in Iraq. |
| The chilling message in the video, entitled ‘A Message to America”, was unambiguous and warned President Barack Obama of further retaliation to come – including the beheading of a second journalist. | The chilling message in the video, entitled ‘A Message to America”, was unambiguous and warned President Barack Obama of further retaliation to come – including the beheading of a second journalist. |
| The execution of James Foley follows nearly two weeks of US air strikes that have pounded militant positions and halted the advance of Isis extremists, which until this month had captured a third of Iraq with little resistance. | The execution of James Foley follows nearly two weeks of US air strikes that have pounded militant positions and halted the advance of Isis extremists, which until this month had captured a third of Iraq with little resistance. |
| It also shows images of another US journalist, Steven Sotloff, whose life militants said depended on how the US responded. | It also shows images of another US journalist, Steven Sotloff, whose life militants said depended on how the US responded. |
| The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, condemned the killing as “one more example in a catalogue of brutality” by "evil" Isis. | The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, condemned the killing as “one more example in a catalogue of brutality” by "evil" Isis. |
| “Isis are waging war on moderate Islamic opinion and they are waging war on the West and we have to deal with them on that basis," he added. | “Isis are waging war on moderate Islamic opinion and they are waging war on the West and we have to deal with them on that basis," he added. |
| He said the person shown decapitating Mr Foley "appears to be British" and experts are urgently investigating who he is. | He said the person shown decapitating Mr Foley "appears to be British" and experts are urgently investigating who he is. |
| The video opens with a clip of US President Barack Obama saying he had authorised strikes in Iraq. | The video opens with a clip of US President Barack Obama saying he had authorised strikes in Iraq. |
| "Obama authorises military operations against the Islamic State effectively placing America upon a slippery slope towards a new war front against Muslims," words appear in English and Arabic on the screen. | "Obama authorises military operations against the Islamic State effectively placing America upon a slippery slope towards a new war front against Muslims," words appear in English and Arabic on the screen. |
| It shows black and white aerial footage of air strikes with text saying: "American aggression against the Islamic State" | It shows black and white aerial footage of air strikes with text saying: "American aggression against the Islamic State" |
| A person identified as Mr Foley and wearing an orange outfit is seen kneeling in the desert as a man in black dress with a black mask stands beside him, holding a knife. "I call on my friends family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government, for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality," the kneeling man says, in what appears to be a prepared statement. | A person identified as Mr Foley and wearing an orange outfit is seen kneeling in the desert as a man in black dress with a black mask stands beside him, holding a knife. "I call on my friends family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government, for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality," the kneeling man says, in what appears to be a prepared statement. |
| The man in the mask says: "This is James Wright Foley, an American citizen of your country. As a government you have been at the forefront of the aggression towards the Islamic State,' begins the executioner. | The man in the mask says: "This is James Wright Foley, an American citizen of your country. As a government you have been at the forefront of the aggression towards the Islamic State,' begins the executioner. |
| "You have plotted against us and gone far out of your way to find reasons to interfere in our affairs. Today, your military airforce is attacking us daily in Iraq. | "You have plotted against us and gone far out of your way to find reasons to interfere in our affairs. Today, your military airforce is attacking us daily in Iraq. |
| "Your strikes have caused casualties amongst Muslims. You are no longer fighting an insurgency. | "Your strikes have caused casualties amongst Muslims. You are no longer fighting an insurgency. |
| "We are an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. | "We are an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. |
| "So any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people." | "So any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people." |
| The video shows a man, thought to be James Foley, kneeling in front of a black-clad militant Following his statement he beheads the kneeling man. | The video shows a man, thought to be James Foley, kneeling in front of a black-clad militant Following his statement he beheads the kneeling man. |
| The video's grisly message was unambiguous, warning of greater retaliation to come against Americans following nearly two weeks of US air strikes that have pounded militant positions and halted the advance of Islamic State, which until this month had captured a third of Iraq with little resistance. | The video's grisly message was unambiguous, warning of greater retaliation to come against Americans following nearly two weeks of US air strikes that have pounded militant positions and halted the advance of Islamic State, which until this month had captured a third of Iraq with little resistance. |
| The video goes on to show a man thought to be a second journalist, Steven Sotloff, who was kidnapped in Syria in August 2013. | The video goes on to show a man thought to be a second journalist, Steven Sotloff, who was kidnapped in Syria in August 2013. |
| The militant with a man thought to be the journalist Steven Sotloff After bringing out the second man and making him kneel, the masked executioner addresses the US President, saying: “The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision. | |
| The White House said last night that it had yet to confirm whether the man in the video was Mr Foley. Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement, “The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine [the video’s] authenticity. 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 White House said last night that it had yet to confirm whether the man in the video was Mr Foley. Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement, “The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine [the video’s] authenticity. 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 mother of Mr Foley has urged his kidnappers to spare the lives of any remaining hostages. | The mother of Mr Foley has urged his kidnappers to spare the lives of any remaining hostages. |
| In a message posted to the Facebook page “Free James Foley”, Diane Foley wrote: “We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people. We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.” | In a message posted to the Facebook page “Free James Foley”, Diane Foley wrote: “We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people. We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.” |
| Isis has declared an Islamic state – caliphate – across swathes of northern Iraq and Syria, taking numerous towns and cities. In recent days, Kurdish fighters, back by US air strikes have engaged in a battle for control of the key strategic Mosul dam. | Isis has declared an Islamic state – caliphate – across swathes of northern Iraq and Syria, taking numerous towns and cities. In recent days, Kurdish fighters, back by US air strikes have engaged in a battle for control of the key strategic Mosul dam. |
| Islamic State added new fighters in Syria at a record rate in July, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict. About 6,300 men - 80 percent of them Syrian and the rest foreigners - joined last month, Rami Abdelrahman, founder of the Observatory, told Reuters news agency. | Islamic State added new fighters in Syria at a record rate in July, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict. About 6,300 men - 80 percent of them Syrian and the rest foreigners - joined last month, Rami Abdelrahman, founder of the Observatory, told Reuters news agency. |