An Islamic State video has appeared which purports to show the beheading of Steven Sotloff, a US journalist being held hostage by the militants.<\/p>\n
Mr Sotloff, 31, disappeared in Syria in 2013. He appeared at the end of a video last month which showed fellow US journalist James Foley being killed.<\/p>\n
A militant in the video also threatens to kill a hostage said to be British.<\/p>\n
After Mr Foley’s death, Mr Sotloff’s mother appealed to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to save her son’s life.<\/p>\n
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said US officials were checking the reports.<\/p>\n
The US has recently carried out dozens of air strikes against IS targets in Iraq.<\/p>\n
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the apparent beheading is a way for IS to get back at the US for its actions.<\/p>\n
‘Arrogant policy’<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The video shows a masked figure together with Mr Sotloff, who is dressed in an orange jumpsuit.<\/p>\n
The masked man describes the act he is about to commit as retribution for the US air strikes.<\/p>\n
“I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State… despite our serious warnings,” the man says.<\/p>\n
“We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”<\/p>\n
The video ends with the militant threatening to kill a captive who is claimed to be British.<\/p>\n
Mr Earnest urged caution about the veracity of the video.<\/p>\n
“Our thoughts and prayers, first and foremost, are with Mr Sotloff and Mr Sotloff’s family and those who worked with him,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’m not in a position to confirm the authenticity of that video or the reports.<\/p>\n
“If there is a video that’s been released, it’s something that will be analysed very carefully by the US government and our intelligence officials to establish its authenticity.”<\/p>\n
UK Prime Minister David Cameron described the apparent beheading as an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act”.<\/p>\n
Mr Sotloff was abducted near Aleppo in northern Syria in August 2013.<\/p>\n
He had worked for Time magazine, Foreign Policy and the Christian Science Monitor, and reported from Egypt, Libya and Syria.<\/p>\n
Friends said he had lived in Yemen for many years and spoke good Arabic.<\/p>\n
At the time of his capture, his family chose not to go public with details, on the advice of officials.<\/p>\n
Credit: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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