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James Foley 'beheading' was 'shocking and depraved' - PM James Foley 'beheading' was 'shocking and depraved' - PM
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron has described the apparent beheading of a US journalist by an Islamic State militant with an English accent as "shocking and depraved". Prime Minister David Cameron has said the apparent beheading of a US journalist by an Islamic State militant with an English accent is "shocking and depraved".
The PM has returned from his holiday for meetings on Iraq and Syria with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
James Foley, 40, has been missing since he was seized in Syria in 2012.James Foley, 40, has been missing since he was seized in Syria in 2012.
Mr Cameron has returned from his holiday to chair emergency meetings on the situation in Iraq and Syria.
Police and Whitehall officials are understood to be trying to identify the man suspected of the killing.Police and Whitehall officials are understood to be trying to identify the man suspected of the killing.
Mr Cameron said on Twitter: "If true, the murder of James Foley is shocking and depraved. I will today chair meetings on the situation in Iraq/Syria." The Metropolitan Police said it was investigating video footage posted online purportedly showing Mr Foley being killed.
It warned that "viewing, downloading or disseminating" the video may be an offence under terrorism legislation.
Number 10 said the prime minister, who had been in Cornwall with his family, would meet senior Home Office and Foreign Office officials.Number 10 said the prime minister, who had been in Cornwall with his family, would meet senior Home Office and Foreign Office officials.
Earlier Mr Hammond told BBC Breakfast the government was aware of "significant numbers" of British nationals involved with extremist organisations overseas. Earlier Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told BBC Breakfast the government was aware of "significant numbers" of British nationals involved with extremist organisations overseas.
The foreign secretary said that while the video, which was posted online, had not been verified, "all the hallmarks point to it being genuine". He said that while the video had not been verified, "all the hallmarks point to it being genuine".
He acknowledged the militant spoke with an English accent but said further analysis of the footage was needed.He acknowledged the militant spoke with an English accent but said further analysis of the footage was needed.
'Very grave''Very grave'
"We're absolutely aware that there are significant numbers of British nationals involved in terrible crimes, probably in the commission of atrocities, making jihad with Isil [now known as IS] and other extremist organisations," he said."We're absolutely aware that there are significant numbers of British nationals involved in terrible crimes, probably in the commission of atrocities, making jihad with Isil [now known as IS] and other extremist organisations," he said.
"This is something we have been tracking and dealing with for many many months and I don't think this video changes anything."This is something we have been tracking and dealing with for many many months and I don't think this video changes anything.
"It just heightens awareness of a situation which is very grave and which we've been working on for many months.""It just heightens awareness of a situation which is very grave and which we've been working on for many months."
It is estimated that IS, which has seized large parts of northern Iraq and Syria, has up to 400 recruits from the UK in its ranks.It is estimated that IS, which has seized large parts of northern Iraq and Syria, has up to 400 recruits from the UK in its ranks.
Some 69 people suspected of Syria-related jihadist activities have now been arrested in the UK.Some 69 people suspected of Syria-related jihadist activities have now been arrested in the UK.
Mr Hammond said the involvement of British nationals with extremist groups was one of the reasons that IS "represents such a direct threat" to the UK's security.Mr Hammond said the involvement of British nationals with extremist groups was one of the reasons that IS "represents such a direct threat" to the UK's security.
He added: "Many of these people may seek at some point to return to the UK and they would then pose a direct threat to our domestic security."He added: "Many of these people may seek at some point to return to the UK and they would then pose a direct threat to our domestic security."
That would be especially likely if IS was "pushed back", leaving its foreign fighters to return to their country of origin, said Mr Hammond.That would be especially likely if IS was "pushed back", leaving its foreign fighters to return to their country of origin, said Mr Hammond.
"We would see these people going back and potentially carrying on their fighting in our own homelands," he added."We would see these people going back and potentially carrying on their fighting in our own homelands," he added.
'Absolute horror''Absolute horror'
In the video, titled A Message to America, a man who appears to be Mr Foley is wearing an orange jumpsuit, 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 Mr Foley is wearing an orange jumpsuit, kneeling in desert-like terrain beside an armed man dressed in black.
The masked militant, who speaks with an English accent and identifies himself as an IS member, says the journalist's death is retaliation for US airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq. The masked militant, who speaks with an English accent and identifies himself as an IS member, says the journalist's death is retaliation for US air attacks against IS targets in Iraq.
The foreign secretary felt "absolute horror" at the "brutal execution", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.The foreign secretary felt "absolute horror" at the "brutal execution", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mr Cameron said on Twitter: "If true, the murder of James Foley is shocking and depraved. I will today chair meetings on the situation in Iraq/Syria."
The White House said if the video was genuine, the US would be "appalled by the murder of an innocent American journalist".The White House said if the video was genuine, the US would be "appalled by the murder of an innocent American journalist".
Mr Foley's mother Diane said on Facebook she was proud of her son, who had reported extensively across the Middle East, working for America's Global Post and other media outlets including the French news agency AFP.Mr Foley's mother Diane said on Facebook she was proud of her son, who had reported extensively across the Middle East, working for America's Global Post and other media outlets including the French news agency AFP.
"He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," she wrote."He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," she wrote.
Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy, who worked alongside Mr Foley in 2011, said: "Without him... these tyrants will get away with things without people probing and pushing to show people what's really happening in these war zones."
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC the government should be doing more to extend its anti-extremism strategy and accused ministers of watering down control orders for terror suspects.Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC the government should be doing more to extend its anti-extremism strategy and accused ministers of watering down control orders for terror suspects.
Frank Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, said the video could encourage people to join IS.Frank Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, said the video could encourage people to join IS.
"It attracts the worst kind of psychopaths," he said. "This is not about religion. It's not even about territory.""It attracts the worst kind of psychopaths," he said. "This is not about religion. It's not even about territory."
Of the apparent beheading, he added: "It is utterly cowardly - killing, in a very sadistic and cruel and graphic way a defenceless civilian, a journalist, because you can't get to your real enemies."Of the apparent beheading, he added: "It is utterly cowardly - killing, in a very sadistic and cruel and graphic way a defenceless civilian, a journalist, because you can't get to your real enemies."
'Vicious' British fighters'Vicious' British fighters
Shiraz Maher, from King's College London's International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, said that British IS recruits were "not there to take a back seat role" and that many were becoming "hardened killers".Shiraz Maher, from King's College London's International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, said that British IS recruits were "not there to take a back seat role" and that many were becoming "hardened killers".
He told Today: "Unfortunately the British participation in the conflicts now raging in both Syria and Iraq has been one of full participation, one that has seen them at the front lines, taking part in the conflict in every way.He told Today: "Unfortunately the British participation in the conflicts now raging in both Syria and Iraq has been one of full participation, one that has seen them at the front lines, taking part in the conflict in every way.
"So we have seen British fighters out there operating as suicide bombers; we have seen them operating as executioners."So we have seen British fighters out there operating as suicide bombers; we have seen them operating as executioners.
"Unfortunately they are amongst some of the most vicious and vociferous fighters who are out there.""Unfortunately they are amongst some of the most vicious and vociferous fighters who are out there."
Qari Asim, Imam at the Makkah Mosque in Leeds, told BBC News the risk of young British Muslims joining the fighting was "getting greater because of our... involvement in Iraq". Qari Asim, imam at the Makkah mosque in Leeds, told BBC News the risk of young British Muslims joining the fighting was "getting greater because of our... involvement in Iraq".
He called on the Muslim community to "work with intelligence services and the government and everyone else to make sure that this poison doesn't reach our borders".He called on the Muslim community to "work with intelligence services and the government and everyone else to make sure that this poison doesn't reach our borders".
Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to this story? You can send us your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "James Foley".Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to this story? You can send us your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "James Foley".