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| Islamic State Kassig murder: Western jihadists probed | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Western intelligence officials are trying to identify Islamic State (IS) militants seen in the video that shows the beheading of US aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig and 18 Syrian prisoners. | Western intelligence officials are trying to identify Islamic State (IS) militants seen in the video that shows the beheading of US aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig and 18 Syrian prisoners. |
| Mr Kassig, 26, is the fifth Western hostage to be killed by IS. | Mr Kassig, 26, is the fifth Western hostage to be killed by IS. |
| One of the militants is likely to be a Frenchman named Maxime Hauchard, 22, France's interior minister says. | One of the militants is likely to be a Frenchman named Maxime Hauchard, 22, France's interior minister says. |
| Another was reported to be a Briton, but the father of Nasser Muthana, 20, now denies it is his son. | Another was reported to be a Briton, but the father of Nasser Muthana, 20, now denies it is his son. |
| The Daily Mail had earlier reported Ahmed Muthana as saying "it looks like my son". | The Daily Mail had earlier reported Ahmed Muthana as saying "it looks like my son". |
| But Mr Muthana now says his son is not among the 16 jihadists in the video. | But Mr Muthana now says his son is not among the 16 jihadists in the video. |
| Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
| The 16-minute video posted online by IS, while graphically sadistic, also reveals a wealth of detail about the perpetrators and their whereabouts. This is deliberate. IS is effectively taunting the Western-led coalition that is arranged against it, saying this is who we are, come and get us if you dare. | The 16-minute video posted online by IS, while graphically sadistic, also reveals a wealth of detail about the perpetrators and their whereabouts. This is deliberate. IS is effectively taunting the Western-led coalition that is arranged against it, saying this is who we are, come and get us if you dare. |
| Intelligence agencies will be using facial recognition software to identify those involved in the mass beheading, matching their real names and origins to their adopted battle names. IS has even put a place name on the video, Dabiq in northern Syria - a place where according to Islamic hadith, an apocalyptic battle will be fought between Muslims and non-Muslims. | Intelligence agencies will be using facial recognition software to identify those involved in the mass beheading, matching their real names and origins to their adopted battle names. IS has even put a place name on the video, Dabiq in northern Syria - a place where according to Islamic hadith, an apocalyptic battle will be fought between Muslims and non-Muslims. |
| The one person who keeps his identity concealed is the suspected British jihadist known in the UK media as "Jihadi John". He is believed to be from London and both the FBI and MI5 almost certainly know who he is but for reasons known to them, they are not revealing it. | The one person who keeps his identity concealed is the suspected British jihadist known in the UK media as "Jihadi John". He is believed to be from London and both the FBI and MI5 almost certainly know who he is but for reasons known to them, they are not revealing it. |
| An idealist 'simply trying to help people' | An idealist 'simply trying to help people' |
| Abdul-Rahman Kassig in his own words | Abdul-Rahman Kassig in his own words |
| Legacy pledge | Legacy pledge |
| The IS video shows a masked man standing over a severed head, which the White House confirmed was Mr Kassig's. | The IS video shows a masked man standing over a severed head, which the White House confirmed was Mr Kassig's. |
| He was captured by IS, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, in October 2013 while travelling to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria. | He was captured by IS, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, in October 2013 while travelling to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria. |
| His parents, Ed and Paula, from Indiana, said in a statement they were heartbroken by his death. | His parents, Ed and Paula, from Indiana, said in a statement they were heartbroken by his death. |
| "We are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling," they said. "We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can." | "We are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling," they said. "We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can." |
| The latest IS video also shows the beheading of 18 Syrian captives, who are identified as army officers and pilots. They are said to have been taken from Tabqa air base last August. They are mostly from the Alawite religious sect and come from Latakia and Tartous, according to a Syrian opposition group. the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | The latest IS video also shows the beheading of 18 Syrian captives, who are identified as army officers and pilots. They are said to have been taken from Tabqa air base last August. They are mostly from the Alawite religious sect and come from Latakia and Tartous, according to a Syrian opposition group. the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| Unlike previous videos released by IS, the latest shows the faces of many of the militants and specifies its location - Dabiq in Syria's Aleppo province. | Unlike previous videos released by IS, the latest shows the faces of many of the militants and specifies its location - Dabiq in Syria's Aleppo province. |
| French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the analysis conducted by the French intelligence department "concludes that it is highly probable that a French citizen took direct part in committing these horrific crimes". | French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the analysis conducted by the French intelligence department "concludes that it is highly probable that a French citizen took direct part in committing these horrific crimes". |
| "Investigations are ongoing, but it is strongly assumed it could be Maxime Hauchard, born in 1992, originally from the Eure province who had gone to Syria in August 2013, after a stay in Mauritania in 2012." | "Investigations are ongoing, but it is strongly assumed it could be Maxime Hauchard, born in 1992, originally from the Eure province who had gone to Syria in August 2013, after a stay in Mauritania in 2012." |
| In Britain, Muthana's father, Ahmed, initially said it was his son, but then said the images were blurry and he was not sure. | In Britain, Muthana's father, Ahmed, initially said it was his son, but then said the images were blurry and he was not sure. |
| He now says that although he has not seen the footage, he is able to confirm it is not his son from images he has seen. | He now says that although he has not seen the footage, he is able to confirm it is not his son from images he has seen. |
| Nasser Muthana appeared in an IS video in June that was aimed at recruitment. | |
| The man in question stands to the right of another man, who is suspected to be British militant nicknamed "Jihadi John". This man is dressed in black with a balaclava, while the rest of the militants wear army fatigues. | The man in question stands to the right of another man, who is suspected to be British militant nicknamed "Jihadi John". This man is dressed in black with a balaclava, while the rest of the militants wear army fatigues. |
| "Jihadi John" has been shown in previous IS videos carrying out the beheadings of the other Western hostages: Britons Alan Henning and David Haines, and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. | "Jihadi John" has been shown in previous IS videos carrying out the beheadings of the other Western hostages: Britons Alan Henning and David Haines, and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. |
| Abdul-Rahman Kassig | Abdul-Rahman Kassig |
| Former soldier and idealist | Former soldier and idealist |
| Kassig's emotional letters home | Kassig's emotional letters home |