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US probes veracity of Sotloff video

September 3, 2014

US intelligence analysts have been working to determine the veracity of a video purporting to show the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. The apparent killing has met with worldwide condemnation.

https://p.dw.com/p/1D5cg
IS-Geisel Steven Sotloff bei der Arbeit
Image: Malglaive/Getty Images

US National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement on Tuesday that the US government had seen the video of Sotloff (pictured above center in 2011), and that intelligence analysts were examining it.

"The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity," said Meehan. "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We will provide more information when it is available."

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that, if the video proved to be authentic, the beheading would be "a horrific terrorist act."

Speaking in New Zealand on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced condemnation of IS atrocities, addressing the report of Sotloff's death.

"We are all outraged at reports from Iraq about the brutal killing of civilians… including yesterday's reported brutal beheading of another journalist," he said.

Earlier warning from captors

Last month, IS members murdered US journalist James Foley. In the video, Sotloff appeared after Foley's beheading with his full name "Steven Joel Sotloff" written on screen. A masked man in the video then warned: "The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision."

IS said the executions of the two US journalists were in direct response to US military airstrikes against its members in northern Iraq, who have been battling Kurdish fighters for control of the territory.

US President Barack Obama authorized the bombings of IS sites in early August in a bid to prevent the humanitarian crisis in northern Iraq from worsening. In the meantime, some EU member states, including Germany, have approved military aid for Iraq to battle the Islamic State.

James Foley Journalist Reporter
IS said Foley's murder was in response to US airstrikes against its fightersImage: Reuters

UN to probe IS killings

Prior to the release of the purported Sotloff video on Tuesday, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) announced it would send a team to investigate the IS activities against civilians in response to a human rights report.

According to human rights watchdog Amnesty International, the jihadist group had committed "war crimes, including mass summary killings and abductions."

The UNHCR condemned the alleged abuses, which reportedly have included beheadings, crucifixions and public stoning.

rc/jm (dpa, AFP, Reuters)