Militants claim to have killed second US man
ISLAMIC State (IS) militants claim to have killed a second US journalist held captive alongside James Foley, who was murdered last month.
A video released yesterday and entitled “A second message to America” is thought to show the beheading of writer Steven Sotloff, who was captured in Syria last year. Sotloff’s life had been threatened by militants in the video released in late August, showing the murder of Foley at the hands of a man widely thought to be British.
In the second video, posted online yesterday and yet to be verified by the US government, a masked man is seen decapitating Sotloff, who is dressed in an orange jumpsuit. The militant then warns that a British hostage, whose name flashes up on screen, will be next. The footage lasts for around three minutes and is staged in a desert similar to the place where Foley was murdered.
Last night Prime Minister David Cameron called the killing “despicable and barbaric”, adding: “As I have said consistently over the last few weeks, ISIL terrorists speak for no religion. They threaten Syrians, Iraqis, Americans and British people alike.” He will chair a COBR meeting on the threat today.