Peter Kassig's Family Call for Restraint after Beheading Video

An undated photograph of Peter Kassig with his parents
Ed and Paula Kassig

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Parents of US army veteran ask for video of their son's apparent beheading not to be shared or distributed

The parents of the American hostage in Syria, Peter Kassig, have called for restraint in publishing the jihadist propaganda video released on Sunday which claims that he has been killed and beheaded.

The video, more graphic than those showing previous murders of hostages, shows 18 Syrian soldiers having their heads cut off by jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

It concludes with the British-accented fighter known as Jihadist John standing over what appears to be the head of Mr Kassig.

"This is Peter Edward Kassig, a U.S. citizen, of your country," he says, pointing his knife at the camera as he did in previous films, and addressing himself to President Barack Obama. "To Obama, the dog of Rome, today we are slaughtering the soldiers of Bashar and tomorrow we will be slaughtering your soldiers."

The American and British governments both said they were examining the video and trying to authenticate it. Ed and Paula Kassig, who had made personal appeals to Isil to release their son, said in a statement they were aware of the news and awaiting confirmation. » | Richard Spencer in Gaziantep, Magdy Samaan, Andrew Marszal and Louisa Loveluck | Sunday, November 16, 2014

Professor Patricia Ward Identified As New York Woman Allegedly Beheaded By Son

THE HUFFINGTON POST: The Long Island woman beheaded in a gruesome murder Tuesday night was a respected and beloved professor at Farmingdale State College, school officials have confirmed.

Patricia Ward taught language arts at the school for 28 years, spokesman Patrick Calabria said in a statement.

"We are in shock," Calabria told the New York Post. "The staff in her department is teary-eyed. We are providing counseling to the staff who need it. It’s a very sad day. A lot of people are taking it very hard." » | Andres Jauregui | Wednesday, October 29, 2014

US Beheading: Headless Body Discovered outside NY Apartment Building

FOX NEWS: Professor beheaded in what witnesses first thought was Halloween prank » | Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Man Beheads Woman & Jumps in front of Train

NEW YORK POST: A man beheaded a woman at her Long Island apartment Tuesday night and dragged her out into the street where he kicked her severed head about 20 feet before jumping in front of a train, cops and witnesses said.

The woman, who appeared to be in her 60s, was discovered dead outside an apartment building in Farmingdale at around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nassau County police said. » | Kenneth Garger | Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Video emerges of ISIS Beheading British Hostage Alan Henning

Oct. 03, 2014 - 0:39 - Islamic militants release reported video of killing

Breaking News! Woman 'Beheaded' in Oklahoma by Colleague

Alton Nolen has been identified as the suspect

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Alton Nolen allegedly beheaded a co-worker after being fired from his job where he had recently tried to convert people to Islam

A woman has been beheaded in an Oklahoma food processing plant by a sacked employee who had allegedly tried to convert his colleagues to Islam.

Alton Nolen, 30, walked into the Vaughan Foods plant plant in Moore Oklahoma and decapitated Colleen Hufford, 54, with a knife and then attacked a second women, Traci Johnson, 43.

He was shot and injured by Mark Vaughan, a former chief operating officer at the company and an Oklahoma County reserve deputy. Ms Johnson and Nolen are reported to be recovering from their wounds in hospital. » | David Millward, US Correspondent and AFP | Friday, September 26, 2014

Sotloff Beheading Will Arouse Righteous Anger of US Public

Analysis: Barack Obama has so far adopted a hands-off policy in the Middle East, but the murder of a second American hostage may force his hand

Read the article here | Peter Foster, Washington | Tuesday, August 02, 2014

Time to Bomb ISIS

Journalist James Wright Foley

NEW YORK POST: The time for games is over.

On Tuesday, America got a horrific wake-up call: Islamic State terrorists released a gruesome video that shows them beheading James Wright Foley, an American photojournalist held in Syria since 2012. The group also showed another US journalist held hostage, Steven Joel Sotloff, and threatened to murder him as well.

“The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,” declares the masked terrorist as he holds Sotloff by the neck.

True, that puts President Obama in a difficult spot. But the president must do whatever it takes to counter this vicious savagery: that is, launch full-throttled airstrikes against ISIS and its “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria — until the threat is gone. » | Post Editorial Board | Wednesday, August 20, 2014

US and UK Agents Work to ID Executioner in Beheading Video

Aug. 20, 2014 - 3:16 - Executioner appears to speak in British accent

Mother: Jim Foley Died Trying to Expose Suffering in Syria

Aug. 20, 2014 - 5:46 - Wall Street Journal Assistant Managing Editor John Bussey reacts to Diane Foley's statement

ISIS Beheads American Journalist in Video

Aug. 20, 2014 - 2:05 - Leland Vittert reports from Washington

Hunt Begins for 'British' Islamic State Executioner of US Journalist James Foley

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Intelligence agencies try to identify masked jihadi killer of James Foley who spoke with accent believed to be from London or southern England


Intelligence agencies are trying to identify the executioner of American journalist James Foley after he spoke with what appeared to be an English accent.

The Islamic State jihadi, clad all in black with his face covered, addressed the camera during a five-minute video and delivered an anti-American rant in what appeared to be an accent from London or southern England.

It will raise fears about the role of extremists from the UK in Islamic State, which now controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq.

One tweet from an account dedicated to the "upcoming conquest of the Americas" described the man as a "foreign muhaji, British, who climbed the ranks and shook America to its knees." However, it was unclear if the author knew his identity or was simply responding to media reports.

In the video the masked man points a knife at the camera with his left hand and says: "This is James Wright Foley, an American citizen, of your country. As a government, you have been at the forefront of the aggression towards the Islamic State.

"Today, your military air force is attacking us daily in Iraq...any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people." » | Nick Allen and Philip Sherwell | Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Islamic State Claim They Have Beheaded Kidnapped Journalist James Foley

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Islamist group released a video showing a masked militant purportedly beheading the reporter, who has been missing since he was seized by armed men in Syria in November 2012

Jihadist group the Islamic State have claimed to have executed American journalist James Foley in revenge for US air strikes against its fighters in Iraq.

The Islamist group released a video showing a masked militant purportedly beheading the reporter, who has been missing since he was seized by armed men in Syria in November 2012. » | Agencies | Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Robert Spencer and Michael Coren on the Conviction of Jihad Murderers in the UK and More

Michael Coren & Robert Spencer discuss the conviction of Lee Rigby's murderers and the twisted denial of some that it was completely inspired by Islam, plus Prince Charles, a suspected revert to Islam, actually comes out and warns of the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

HT: Robert Spencer @ Jihad Watch »

Lee Rigby Murder: Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale Found Guilty

Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale

THE GUARDIAN: Old Bailey jury finds pair guilty of fatally attacking soldier in street near Woolwich barracks in south London

Two men have been convicted of murdering a soldier in broad daylight near a military barracks in London, in the first al-Qaida-inspired attack to claim a life on British soil since 7 July 2005.

Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, murdered Lee Rigby, 25, as he returned to the Woolwich barracks in south London, in May.

They were convicted after a trial at the Old Bailey in central London, which heard that the soldier was almost beheaded in the attack.

The jury took just over 90 minutes to reach its verdicts. Both men were found not guilty of the attempted murder of a police officer. Relatives of Rigby cried as the verdicts were given.

Rigby's stepfather, Ian, wiped away tears and put his arm around the soldier's mother, Lyn, who was sobbing.

Mr Justice Sweeney, who ordered that the decisions be heard in silence, said he would pass sentence after a key appeal court ruling on the use of whole life terms in January.

Adebolajo looked at the press and kissed his Qur'an as he was taken to the court cells.

Adebolajo, from Romford, Essex, and Adebowale, from Greenwich, south London, claimed they were soldiers of Allah and their violence was a reprisal against western foreign policy, which had led to the deaths of Muslims. » | Vikram Dodd and Josh Halliday | Thursday, December 19, 2013

Read the Telegraph article here | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Thursday, December 19, 2013

Lee Rigby Case: Muslim Fanatic Said He Killed Soldier In 'Most Humane Way He Could'

Drummer Lee Rigby

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Michael Adebolajo tells the court Mr Rigby died because he was simply the first soldier they spotted and it was as if “Allah had chosen him”

An Islamist fanatic admitted trying to decapitate Drummer Lee Rigby because “the most humane way to kill any creature is to cut the jugular”, a jury has heard.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, told police he was not sure “how I struck the first blow” but added “I struck at the neck and attempted to remove the head”.

He also revealed 25-year-old Mr Rigby died because he was simply the first soldier they spotted and it was as if “Allah had chosen him”.

The admissions came during a fourth interview with police ten days after Fusilier Rigby was allegedly run over with a car and then hacked to death close to his Woolwich barracks in south east London. » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Thursday, December 05, 2013

Al-Qaeda-linked Rebels Apologise after Cutting Off Head of Wrong Person

Mohammed Fares, left) was mistakenly decapitated

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham militants say sorry for decapitating a fellow extremist rather than enemy

Militant Islamist rebels in Syria linked to al-Qaeda have asked for "understanding and forgiveness" for cutting off and putting on display the wrong man's head.

In a public appearance filmed and posted online, members of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, one brandishing a knife, held up a bearded head before a crowd in Aleppo. They triumphantly described the execution of what they said was a member of an Iraqi Shia militia fighting for President Bashar al-Assad.

But the head was recognised from the video as originally belonging to a member of Ahrar al-Sham, a Sunni Islamist rebel group that often fights alongside ISIS though it does not share its al-Qaeda ideology.

After inquiries, an ISIS spokesman admitted he was Mohammed Fares, an Ahrar commander reported missing some days ago. This could not be independently confirmed, but in an earlier video of a speech by Mr Fares he bears a close resemblance to the severed head in the later video. » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Thursday, November 14, 2013

Archbishop of Canterbury Condemns 'Unacceptable' Attacks on Muslims

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he does not want to live in a "monocultural" society and condemned "unacceptable" and "inexcusable" attacks on Muslims over recent weeks.

Speaking at Featherstone High School in Southall, west London, the Most Rev Justin Welby described attacks on mosques in the wake of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby earlier this year as "evil actions".

"The attacks on minority ethnic groups across the country that there have been over the last few weeks are inexecusable [sic], unacceptable and a scandal to a tradition of hospitality in this country of which we should be deeply proud and which has contributed far more to us than it has taken from us," he said.

He added: "I want, as I have already done, to acknowledge the pressure that our Muslim friends and colleagues have faced over the last few weeks.

"There have been terrible attacks, I know that the vast majority of those in this country and especially people of faith would join me in condemning utterly any act of violence against anyone because of their faith.

"We want you to know that we stand with you, we will do so privately and publicly. We will do so persistently and I pray in the grace of God, persuasively.

"We will do all we can to support the security forces, the police, in bringing to justice those who seek to spread hate and cause division in our community."

Welby told his audience that diversity was a "gift not a threat" and he did not want to live in a "monocultural" society. He said he "rejoiced" in the example of inter[-]faith cooperation and community work he had witnessed in Southall.

"Diversity is a gift, not a threat, it is a hope, not a danger," he said. » | News agencies | Monday, July 22, 2013

Woolwich Terror Attack: Lee Rigby Murder Suspect Michael Adebolajo Beaten Up In Jail

THE INDEPENDENT: One of the men accused of murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks has been attacked in prison.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, of Romford, Essex, was set upon at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London on Wednesday.

It is understood that he lost his two front teeth in the attack, but no arrests have yet been made. The Prison Service refused to comment on the extent of his injuries or on suggestions that he had been “targeted” by prison officers. » | Agency | Thursday, July 18, 2013

Horrific Video Shows Syrian Catholic Priest Being 'Beheaded by Jihadist Fighters in Front of Cheering Crowd'

MAIL ONLINE: Father Francois Murad's death was confirmed by Vatican news agency / Footage of 49-year-old's gruesome death was filmed on a camera phone / The Syrian priest was killed last 23 June in Gassanieh, northern Syria

A Syrian Catholic priest has been beheaded by jihadist fighters in Syria, it has been claimed.

The death of Franciscan Father Francois Murad has been confirmed by the official Vatican news agency.

The gruesome killing has raised further concerns about the West arming rebels in the fight against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Grainy footage purported to show the 49-year-old’s death has been posted on the internet.

Father Francois, was killed on 23 June in Gassanieh, in northern Syria. He had been staying in the convent of the Custody of the Holy Land.

Catholic.org linked to the video and reported: 'Syrian terrorists have beheaded a Catholic priest who they accused of collaborating with the Assad regime. Those accusations have not yet been verified.'

Fides News Agency said: 'According to local sources, the monastery where Fr. Murad was staying was attacked by militants linked to the jihadi group Jabhat al-Nusra.'

Jabhat al-Nusra, also known as the Front for the Protection of the Syrian People, is an Al Qaeda associated group, described as 'the most aggressive and successful arm of the rebel force.' Read on and comment » | Daily Mail Reporter | Monday, July 01, 2013

GRAPHIC VIDEO: Syria - Al-Qaeda's Nusra Front Beheads Christian Priest & Man in Idlib countryside »