American freelance journalist James Foley was allegedly beheaded by an Islamic State terrorist, which was captured on video and released through social media by the Islamic State.
After beheading Foley, the executioner threatened the United States that unless it withdraws from Iraq, another American journalist, who also appears in the video, will face the same fate.
The video has not yet been verified by officials, and it was removed from the Internet.
The Islamic State organization released the grisly footage of a man in black with his face covered and speaking with a British accent, who then appeared to cut off the head of the hostage, Foley.
Foley was missing since November 2012. At the time he disappeared, Foley was covering the war in Syria. It is unknown at this time where the video was taken.
Before being executed, Foley read a statement that blamed America for his death.
“I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the U.S. Government. For what will happen to me is only a result of the complacency and criminality.” Foley also told his brother who is in the U.S. military, that he and his colleagues were responsible for his death.
When Foley completed his statement, the terrorist looked directly at the camera and spoke to U.S. President Barack Obama.
“So 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.” And then he cut off the man’s head.
The video released by the terrorist group was titled “A Message to America.” It was posted on social media sites.
SECOND AMERICAN JOURNALIST THREATENED
After killing Foley, the murderer then grabbed another U.S. prisoner, believed to be journalist Steven Joel Sotloff. The murderer said the prisoner’s life “depends on Obama’s next decision.”
Foley had worked for various media outlets such as the PBS NewsHour, the Global Post, and NBC News. He was 39 years old.
Sotloff’s work appeared in Time magazine, Foreign Policy, as well as elsewhere. He was kidnapped in early August of 2013 and was also believed to have been held in Syria.
According to Sotloff’s Facebook page he is from Florida and graduated in 2005 from the University of Central Florida. His last address was listed as Benghazi, Libya.
In 2011, Sotloff was a fellow with the Washington, D.C. think tank the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.