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Jordan executes convicted jihadists after pilot's death | Jordan executes convicted jihadists after pilot's death |
(35 minutes later) | |
Jordan has executed two convicts, including a female jihadist, following the killing of one of its air force pilots by Islamic State (IS) militants. | Jordan has executed two convicts, including a female jihadist, following the killing of one of its air force pilots by Islamic State (IS) militants. |
The woman, failed suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, and al-Qaeda operative Ziyad Karboli - both Iraqi nationals - were hanged at dawn, officials said. | The woman, failed suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, and al-Qaeda operative Ziyad Karboli - both Iraqi nationals - were hanged at dawn, officials said. |
The executions came hours after IS posted a video appearing to show pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive. | |
He was seized after crashing during an anti-IS mission over Syria in December. | He was seized after crashing during an anti-IS mission over Syria in December. |
Jordan had attempted to secure Lt Kasasbeh's release in a swap involving Rishawi. | Jordan had attempted to secure Lt Kasasbeh's release in a swap involving Rishawi. |
She had been on death row for her role in attacks in the capital, Amman, that killed 60 people in 2005. | |
Karboli was convicted in 2008 for killing a Jordanian national. | |
'Punishment and revenge' | |
The two prisoners were executed at 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT), government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said on Wednesday morning. | |
Jordan earlier vowed an "earth-shattering" response after IS on Tuesday published what it said was the pilot's execution video. | |
Mamdouh al-Ameri, a spokesman for the Jordanian armed forces, said that Lt Kasasbeh had "fallen as a martyr". | |
"His blood will not be shed in vain. Our punishment and revenge will be as huge as the loss of the Jordanians." | |
Jordanian state TV reported that Lt Kasasbeh was killed a month ago. | |
Since then Jordan, which has joined the US-led coalition against IS, had tried to secure his release as part of a prisoner swap, offering to free Rishawi in exchange. | |
IS had sought her release as part of a deal to free captive Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. A video that appeared to show Goto's dead body appeared four days ago. | |
The video purportedly showing the pilot was distributed via a Twitter account known as a source for IS propaganda. | |
The highly produced 22-minute film shows what militants say is the pilot standing in a cage engulfed in flames. | |
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says it is aimed at a world already shocked by the calculated cruelty of Islamic State's actions. | |
Jordan's King Abdullah hailed Lt Kasasbeh as a hero, saying Jordan must "stand united" in the face of hardship. | |
The king decided to cut short a visit to the US after news of the pilot's death, but he met President Barack Obama on Tuesday evening before flying home. | |
Mr Obama earlier said that if the video was real, it would be "one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity" of IS. | |
"I think it will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of the global coalition to make sure they are degraded and ultimately defeated," Mr Obama said. | |
Timeline: Jordanian pilot held hostage | |
24 December 2014: Jordanian Lt Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh captured by IS after his plane crashes | |
25 December 2014: Pilot's father urges IS to show mercy | |
20 January 2015: IS threatens to kill two Japanese hostages unless Japan pays $200m ransom within 72 hours | |
24 January: IS releases video of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto holding a picture apparently showing Haruna Yukawa's decapitated body | |
24 January: IS calls for release of Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi militant sentenced to death in Jordan | |
28 January: Jordan offers to release Rishawi in exchange for Lt Kasasbeh | |
29 January: Deadline to kill Lt Kasasbeh and Mr Goto expires | |
31 January: Video released appearing to show Kenji Goto's body | |
3 February: Video released appearing to show Lt Kasasbeh burnt alive, with Jordanian media suggesting he was killed weeks earlier |