British Islamic State terrorist beheads U.S. journalist
The terrorist group known as the Islamic State, which has seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq, has beheaded an American journalist named James Wright Foley and is threatening to murder another named Steven Sotloff.
Reuters says the video was titled, "A Message to America," and posted on various social media sites, including YouTube.
BuzzFeed provided some translation of the graphic and disturbing video, which starts with a clip of President Barack Obama announcing airstrikes on IS positions after they seized control of the Mosul Dam. Those airstrikes enabled Kurdish and Iraqi Special Forces to regain control of the facility.
After the clip with Obama, Foley, clearly under duress, tells his friends and family to rise up against the U.S. government. He then spends some time addressing his brother, John, who is serving in the U.S. Air Force. After around two and a half minutes, the terrorist next to Foley beheads him.
The video ends with the terrorist claiming that they have another U.S. journalist in custody, Steven Sotloff. The terrorist then says that Sotloff's life depends on the next decision that Obama makes.
Foley and his translator were kidnapped near the town of Binesh, Syria, in Nov. 2012. His translator was later released.
Screen captures of the video on social media showed Foley before his death.
Just horrible: ISIS beheads freelance journalist James Foley. Captured in 2012. https://t.co/YumfpqJY83 pic.twitter.com/mviyhYQGLw
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) August 19, 2014
Another capture showed Sotloff.
Another American hostage in #Iraq, Steven Sotloff. #ISIS is threatening to kill him if US airstrikes continue: pic.twitter.com/oj7ufB84Rt — Julia Carmel (@JuliaCarmel_) August 19, 2014
Numerous observers on social media pointed out the murderer had a British accent.
Yes, I watched the video (not till very end). Footage very clear. Definitely James #Foley. ISIS terrorist with British accent. Speechless. — Julie Lenarz (@MsIntervention) August 19, 2014
What gravely concerns me is that the person who beheaded James Foley had a British accent.
— Ruwayda Mustafah (@RuwaydaMustafah) August 19, 2014
ISIS have just released a video beheading photo-journalist James Foley. Its truly awful. And the executor has a British accent. — Sunny Hundal (@sunny_hundal) August 19, 2014
