ISLAMIST fanatics beheaded a missing US journalist then posted a video of the
killing online last night.
The executioner in the film from terror group Islamic State (IS) spoke with an
English accent. He warned President Obama that IS would not stop at the
murder of James Foley.
In the film the militant said: “The life of this American citizen, Obama,
depends on your next decision.”
Foley, who has been missing for 630 days after being kidnapped in Syria, is
feared to have died in revenge for US air strikes in Iraq.
If true, the murder of James Foley is shocking and depraved. I will today chair meetings on the situation in Iraq/Syria.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron)
His mother Diane Foley said overnight that she has “never been prouder”
of her son before begging jihadists to release other hostages.
Her statement said James – known as Jim to his family – “gave his life
trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people”.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond this morning said intelligence services in UK
and US will be working together to identify people involved in beheading of
James Foley.
The video is believed to be being closely examined in an effort to identify
the IS fanatic.
Hammond today blasted the video for being “an appalling example of the
brutality of this organisation”, adding that “all the hallmarks
point to it being genuine”.
He went on to describe IS as being a “direct threat to the UK’s national
security” because of the number of Brits in Syria and Iraq’s “extremist
organisations”.
Adding: “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.”
Foley’s friend Matthew VanDyke described today’s news as a “complete
nightmare”.
He added Foley knew the risks of his job but “believed in what he was
doing”.
In the video, which hit Twitter just after 9pm last night, the Islamic
terrorists claim US air strikes place America “upon a slippery slope towards
a new war front against Muslims”.
The sickening video claimed that a second American — Time magazine contributor
Steven Sotloff — would be the next to die depending on his reaction.
Do you know the executioner’s identity? Call the Sun news desk on 0207 782
4104 or email [email protected]
The video starts with a speech from Obama talking about targeting IS convoys.
Foley, 40, a former reporter for US forces’ newspaper Stars and Stripes who
has been missing since 2012, is seen kneeling down with his hands behind his
back in an orange jumpsuit.
An IS fighter dressed in black holds a knife in his left hand as he talks to
the camera.
Terrified for his life and clearly under duress Foley says: “I call on my
friends, family members and loved ones to rise up against the real killers,
the US government.
“My message to my beloved parents: Save me some dignity and don’t accept any
meagre compensation for my death from the same people who effectively hit
the last nail in my coffin with their recent aerial campaign in Iraq.
“I call on my brother John, who is a member of the US Air Force, think about
the lives you destroy, including those of your own family.”
The militant then holds Foley’s mouth and draws the knife across his throat.
His head is next seen placed on the back of his body.
At the end of the video — which YouTube quickly removed amid outrage — a
kneeling man who resembles Steven Sotloff appears.
Sotloff has been rumoured to be missing since last summer but his kidnapping
has never been confirmed.
The video threatens to dramatically deepen the crisis in the Middle East —
where some 500 Brits are thought to fighting with militant groups — and drag
the US and UK further into the conflict.
Experts said there would be fears about further kidnappings.
The White House said its intelligence specialists were working to determine
the authenticity of the video.
The National Security Council said: “If the video is genuine, we are appalled
by the brutal murder of an innocent American and we express our deepest
condolences to his family and friends.”
Downing Street had no immediate comment last night.
Foley’s brother Michael told The Sun: “I cannot comprehend what has happened.”
Foley, the eldest of five children, grew up in Rochester, New Hampshire, and
taught prisoners to read and write before studying journalism in Chicago.
In January last year the journalist’s family appealed directly to the
kidnappers. His father John said: “We want Jim to come safely home, or at
least we need to speak with him.”
Foley was on a freelance assignment for US news website GlobalPost when he was
abducted. GlobalPost chief exec Philip Balboni said messages of sympathy had
“poured in”.
The execution is the latest in a wave of carnage following in the wake of the
harrowing advance across northern Iraq by IS.
Armed groups have executed soldiers, police and civilians and there are
reports of scores being buried alive.
Last week the EU called for the perpetrators of “crimes against humanity” to
be held to account.