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Peter Kassig murder: experts try to identify foreign jihadis in Isis video Peter Kassig murder: experts try to identify foreign jihadis in Isis video
(about 1 hour later)
Intelligence agencies in Britain, France, Australia and south-east Asia are working to identify a suspected cadre of foreign fighters who appeared in an Islamic State video showing the murders of the US aid worker Peter Kassig and a group of Syrian servicemen.Intelligence agencies in Britain, France, Australia and south-east Asia are working to identify a suspected cadre of foreign fighters who appeared in an Islamic State video showing the murders of the US aid worker Peter Kassig and a group of Syrian servicemen.
The father of a British student who is known to have left the UK for Syria, 20-year-old Nasser Muthana, said one of the extremists in the Isis propaganda video could be his son and confirmed that he had spoken to anti-terrorist police about the images.The father of a British student who is known to have left the UK for Syria, 20-year-old Nasser Muthana, said one of the extremists in the Isis propaganda video could be his son and confirmed that he had spoken to anti-terrorist police about the images.
In France, the Paris prosecutor François Molins identified another of the men in the video as 22-year-old Maxime Hauchard, from a village in Normandy. Molins said that a second Frenchman, who like Hauchard converted to Islam and left France in August last year for Syria, may also have carried out beheadings.In France, the Paris prosecutor François Molins identified another of the men in the video as 22-year-old Maxime Hauchard, from a village in Normandy. Molins said that a second Frenchman, who like Hauchard converted to Islam and left France in August last year for Syria, may also have carried out beheadings.
There was revulsion around the world at the video. In the House of Commons the UK prime minister, David Cameron, said the “sick terrorists” who carried out the killings must face the “justice they deserve”. He said Britain would not be “cowed” by the extremists and added that the world must face the threat together.There was revulsion around the world at the video. In the House of Commons the UK prime minister, David Cameron, said the “sick terrorists” who carried out the killings must face the “justice they deserve”. He said Britain would not be “cowed” by the extremists and added that the world must face the threat together.
Cameron said: “I’m sure the whole house will join with me in utterly condemning the sickening murder of American aid worker Peter Kassig. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. We will not be cowed by these sick terrorists. . They will be defeated and they must face the justice they deserve. The threat is faced by countries right across the world. We must face it together.”Cameron said: “I’m sure the whole house will join with me in utterly condemning the sickening murder of American aid worker Peter Kassig. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. We will not be cowed by these sick terrorists. . They will be defeated and they must face the justice they deserve. The threat is faced by countries right across the world. We must face it together.”
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, launched a withering critique of Isis, insisting the world would not be intimidated in the battle against “barbarism”.John Kerry, the US secretary of state, launched a withering critique of Isis, insisting the world would not be intimidated in the battle against “barbarism”.
At least 3,000 Europeans are thought to have joined Isis in Syria and Iraq. Around 70 Australians are also believed to have travelled to Syria. In addition, one of the killers in the video appears to be either Indonesian or Malaysian.At least 3,000 Europeans are thought to have joined Isis in Syria and Iraq. Around 70 Australians are also believed to have travelled to Syria. In addition, one of the killers in the video appears to be either Indonesian or Malaysian.
In the video, released on Sunday, only one militant – the man nicknamed “Jihadi John” and believed to be a Londoner – is masked. The rest of the extremists show their faces. Intelligence agencies will now be using face-recognition technology to try to confirm the identities of the men.In the video, released on Sunday, only one militant – the man nicknamed “Jihadi John” and believed to be a Londoner – is masked. The rest of the extremists show their faces. Intelligence agencies will now be using face-recognition technology to try to confirm the identities of the men.
Among those who have left the UK for Syria are brothers Nasser and Aseel, 17, who vanished from their home in the Butetown area of Cardiff around 12 months ago. Nasser and his schoolfriend Reyaad Khan, also 20, appeared in an Isis recruitment video that emerged in the summer.Among those who have left the UK for Syria are brothers Nasser and Aseel, 17, who vanished from their home in the Butetown area of Cardiff around 12 months ago. Nasser and his schoolfriend Reyaad Khan, also 20, appeared in an Isis recruitment video that emerged in the summer.
Nasser Muthana’s father, electrical engineer Ahmed Muthana, told the Guardian that one of the men in the video “could” be his son. He said: “It looks like him. I can’t be certain because of the quality of the picture and you can never be sure. But it could be him.”Nasser Muthana’s father, electrical engineer Ahmed Muthana, told the Guardian that one of the men in the video “could” be his son. He said: “It looks like him. I can’t be certain because of the quality of the picture and you can never be sure. But it could be him.”
Muthana said Nasser, who gave up hopes of becoming a medical student to travel to Syria, and his brother had betrayedBritain, where they were born and raised, by leaving to fight with Isis. He said: “I don’t have sons now – that’s how I feel about them. They would not be welcome back home.” Muthana said Nasser, who gave up hopes of becoming a medical student to travel to Syria, and his brother had betrayed Britain, where they were born and raised, by leaving to fight with Isis. He said: “I don’t have sons now – that’s how I feel about them. They would not be welcome back home.”
Muthana said he had not spoken to his boys since his brother left the Welsh capital. “There has been no communication with me at all; I don’t expect to see them ever again.”Muthana said he had not spoken to his boys since his brother left the Welsh capital. “There has been no communication with me at all; I don’t expect to see them ever again.”
Muthana, who arrived in south Wales from Yemen in the 1950s to live with an uncle after his father died in a plane crash, expressed sympathy to the families of those who had been murdered by Isis. “I am so sorry for them, I have huge sympathy,” he said.Muthana, who arrived in south Wales from Yemen in the 1950s to live with an uncle after his father died in a plane crash, expressed sympathy to the families of those who had been murdered by Isis. “I am so sorry for them, I have huge sympathy,” he said.
He said he would not make excuses for his son. “He is a grown man and he must face up to what he has done. What they [Isis] are doing is inhuman, this is not the son I brought up. He has been got at – he has changed.”He said he would not make excuses for his son. “He is a grown man and he must face up to what he has done. What they [Isis] are doing is inhuman, this is not the son I brought up. He has been got at – he has changed.”
The assistant chief constable of South Wales police, Richard Lewis, said: “We are aware of the reports circulating regarding the involvement of Cardiff individuals in a mass execution in Syria. Those reports are being investigated and the details have been passed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Cardiff has a strong and peaceful Islamic community which has long distanced itself from the extremist views reported. All of Cardiff city mosques have joined together and produced advice on ‘What Islam Really Says’ which promotes moderation not extremism.”The assistant chief constable of South Wales police, Richard Lewis, said: “We are aware of the reports circulating regarding the involvement of Cardiff individuals in a mass execution in Syria. Those reports are being investigated and the details have been passed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Cardiff has a strong and peaceful Islamic community which has long distanced itself from the extremist views reported. All of Cardiff city mosques have joined together and produced advice on ‘What Islam Really Says’ which promotes moderation not extremism.”
Speaking at a news conference, the Paris prosecutor said the number of French nationals who have gone to Syria or Iraq to join Isis has reached an “unprecedented level” with a total of 1,132 people suspected of joining terrorist organisations there. Since February 2012, prosecutors have opened 93 jihadi-related cases, and 129 people have been charged.Speaking at a news conference, the Paris prosecutor said the number of French nationals who have gone to Syria or Iraq to join Isis has reached an “unprecedented level” with a total of 1,132 people suspected of joining terrorist organisations there. Since February 2012, prosecutors have opened 93 jihadi-related cases, and 129 people have been charged.
The Frenchman who appeared in the video, Maxime Hauchard, had been known to intelligence services since 2011, and an arrest warrant was issued for him last month after he gave an interview describing his training as an Isis militant.The Frenchman who appeared in the video, Maxime Hauchard, had been known to intelligence services since 2011, and an arrest warrant was issued for him last month after he gave an interview describing his training as an Isis militant.
Hauchard, from a village in Normandy, travelled to Syria via Turkey, where he claimed to be a humanitarian worker. Once in Syria, he took on the nom de guerre Abu Abdallah el Faransi.Hauchard, from a village in Normandy, travelled to Syria via Turkey, where he claimed to be a humanitarian worker. Once in Syria, he took on the nom de guerre Abu Abdallah el Faransi.
He told the French broadcaster BFMTV earlier this year that he decided to travel to Syria for religious reasons to help create a caliphate, and was fully prepared for “martyrdom”.He told the French broadcaster BFMTV earlier this year that he decided to travel to Syria for religious reasons to help create a caliphate, and was fully prepared for “martyrdom”.
Dressed in black, Hauchard had described the month-long training in Syria as “not a holiday, but like a holiday”. He said there were more French nationals at the Isis headquarters in Raqqa, but the group there was mostly made up of Arabs, including Egyptians, Libyans, Tunisians, Moroccans and Saudis.Dressed in black, Hauchard had described the month-long training in Syria as “not a holiday, but like a holiday”. He said there were more French nationals at the Isis headquarters in Raqqa, but the group there was mostly made up of Arabs, including Egyptians, Libyans, Tunisians, Moroccans and Saudis.
In the interview, Hauchard said he had been deployed in Mosul, the northern Iraqi town overrun by Isis in June, and added that he was about to go on a more “spectacular” mission. He also said he expected to die. “My personal goal is martyrdom, obviously,” he said.In the interview, Hauchard said he had been deployed in Mosul, the northern Iraqi town overrun by Isis in June, and added that he was about to go on a more “spectacular” mission. He also said he expected to die. “My personal goal is martyrdom, obviously,” he said.
Molins stressed that radical Islam is not a criminal offence but that police are alert for possible terrorist connections. More than 5% of the French population is Muslim, including many of north African origin. The second French jihadi in the video was not identified, but has been sought since October last year. He and Hauchard are being investigated for murder with an organised gang and associating with terrorists.Molins stressed that radical Islam is not a criminal offence but that police are alert for possible terrorist connections. More than 5% of the French population is Muslim, including many of north African origin. The second French jihadi in the video was not identified, but has been sought since October last year. He and Hauchard are being investigated for murder with an organised gang and associating with terrorists.
The brutal slaying of the captured soldiers and officers was at least the third time Isis has filmed such a scene. In another video, captured troops in Raqqa were forced to dig their own graves before being lined up next to them and shot.The brutal slaying of the captured soldiers and officers was at least the third time Isis has filmed such a scene. In another video, captured troops in Raqqa were forced to dig their own graves before being lined up next to them and shot.
However, this video was strikingly different to the four others uploaded to the internet since mid-August, which depicted the killings of US reporters James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. A body is not shown, and nor was Kassig filmed making a final statement. Instead, his apparent death is revealed at the end of a potted history of the group’s evolution over the past decade and the grisly, unedited slaughter of up to 18 captured Syrian soldiers and airmen said to be near the north-east Syrian town of Dabiq.However, this video was strikingly different to the four others uploaded to the internet since mid-August, which depicted the killings of US reporters James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. A body is not shown, and nor was Kassig filmed making a final statement. Instead, his apparent death is revealed at the end of a potted history of the group’s evolution over the past decade and the grisly, unedited slaughter of up to 18 captured Syrian soldiers and airmen said to be near the north-east Syrian town of Dabiq.