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James Foley killing betrays Britain - Philip Hammond James Foley killing betrays Britain, says Philip Hammond
(about 1 hour later)
The apparent killing of a US journalist by an Islamic State militant believed to be from the UK is "an utter betrayal of everything the British people stand for", the foreign secretary has said. The killing of a US journalist by an Islamic State militant believed to be from the UK is "an utter betrayal of everything the British people stand for", the foreign secretary has said.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Philip Hammond said the government was investing "significant resources" to tackle "a barbaric ideology".Writing in the Sunday Times, Philip Hammond said the government was investing "significant resources" to tackle "a barbaric ideology".
He said the threat from conflicts in Syria and Iraq could last a generation.He said the threat from conflicts in Syria and Iraq could last a generation.
It comes as Number 10 appointed a new security envoy to Iraq. It comes as Downing Street said it had appointed a new security envoy to Iraq.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the new posting to the Kurdistan region of the country showed the government was "stepping up" its efforts to help Iraq defeat Islamic State militants operating in the area. A spokesman said the posting to the Kurdistan region of the country showed the government was "stepping up" its efforts to help Iraq defeat Islamic State (IS) militants operating in the area.
UK authorities are seeking to identify the jihadist with an English accent who appeared in footage of the killing of US journalist James Foley earlier in August. Work is under way to supply "non-lethal equipment" to Kurdish forces who are battling IS in the coming days, including night vision equipment and body armour, the spokesman added.
Extremist group Islamic State published a video of the moments before and after the killing of Mr Foley, who was seized in Syria in 2012. 'Heinous act'
'Strategy clear' UK authorities are seeking to identify the jihadist with an English accent who appeared in footage of the killing of journalist James Foley earlier this month.
Extremist group IS published a video of the moments before and after the apparent beheading of Mr Foley, who was seized in Syria in 2012.
In his Sunday Times article, the foreign secretary made clear his revulsion that the culprit could be British.In his Sunday Times article, the foreign secretary made clear his revulsion that the culprit could be British.
"It is horrifying to think that the perpetrator of this heinous act could have been brought up in Britain," Mr Hammond said."It is horrifying to think that the perpetrator of this heinous act could have been brought up in Britain," Mr Hammond said.
"It is an utter betrayal of our country, our values and everything the British people stand for.""It is an utter betrayal of our country, our values and everything the British people stand for."
More than 500 British citizens are thought to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight in the past few years.More than 500 British citizens are thought to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight in the past few years.
Mr Hammond said the UK had assisted Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who are battling against Islamic State, with military aircraft delivering equipment. Mr Hammond said the UK had assisted Kurdish Peshmerga fighters with military aircraft delivering equipment.
He confirmed Britain would soon start sending eastern European ammunition and weaponry "with which they are already familiar".He confirmed Britain would soon start sending eastern European ammunition and weaponry "with which they are already familiar".
He also said the government was "scoping out" what the UK might supply itself - such as night vision equipment, weapons and ammunition - although no specific request had yet been made.
Mr Hammond said: "Our strategy is clear. We are investing significant resources to tackle this problem for the long-term."Mr Hammond said: "Our strategy is clear. We are investing significant resources to tackle this problem for the long-term."
The government also announced that Lt Gen Sir Simon Mayall, its senior defence advisor for the Middle East, will become its security envoy to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
A spokesman said Gen Mayall would "support Kurdish and wider Iraqi efforts" to counter IS and work with Iraq's leaders as they try to establish a unity government.
"Gen Mayall's extensive experience of the region means he will be able to draw on a broad range of existing relationships across Iraq, the region and with close allies," he added.
The spokesman said Gen Mayall would travel to Iraq next week to meet political leaders in Baghdad and the regional government in Irbil, Kurdistan's capital, "to encourage all Iraqi communities to unite together" against IS.
'Joining barbarism'
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, also writing in the Sunday Times, called for a stronger domestic response.
"More must be done to stop British citizens joining the barbarism and to keep the country safe if they return," she said.
And she called for more action "to disrupt the travel plans of those planning go out to fight through better monitoring of the borders' watch list as well as access to passports".
She also urged Home Secretary Theresa May to "rethink her decision four years ago to end control orders and replace them with the weaker Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act".
TPims are used to restrict movement, the use of computers and mobile phones and meetings with others.
They replaced the previous, more-restrictive system of control orders.
On Saturday, Mrs May said the government was looking at new powers to tackle the threat of extremism in Britain.
'Bloodthirsty skills''Bloodthirsty skills'
Meanwhile, senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for British jihadists to be stripped of their UK citizenship.Meanwhile, senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for British jihadists to be stripped of their UK citizenship.
In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Since these young men are in effect swearing allegiance to a hostile state, they should all forfeit their British citizenship - not just those who are dual nationals.In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Since these young men are in effect swearing allegiance to a hostile state, they should all forfeit their British citizenship - not just those who are dual nationals.
"Since this is an incredibly serious penalty, it should be done only after a proper public trial carrying all the public seriousness and opprobrium of a murder trial, because in many cases that is what it would be."Since this is an incredibly serious penalty, it should be done only after a proper public trial carrying all the public seriousness and opprobrium of a murder trial, because in many cases that is what it would be.
"As the home secretary reiterated yesterday, lawyers would say you cannot render someone stateless."As the home secretary reiterated yesterday, lawyers would say you cannot render someone stateless.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Whitehall lawyers have been wrong before. Democracies have a right to defend themselves.""Perhaps, perhaps not. Whitehall lawyers have been wrong before. Democracies have a right to defend themselves."
Writing in the same newspaper, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey made a similar point.Writing in the same newspaper, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey made a similar point.
"They should not have access to the privilege of travelling under a British passport," he said, "and they certainly should not be able to travel back with the barbaric and bloodthirsty skills they have gained." "They should not have access to the privilege of travelling under a British passport," he said, adding "and they certainly should not be able to travel back with the barbaric and bloodthirsty skills they have gained".
Home Secretary Theresa May has said the government is looking at new powers to tackle the threat of extremism in Britain. Who are Islamic State (IS)?