ISIS confirm Jihadi John was killed in Raqqa air strike

Killed: Islamic State confirmed 'Jihadi John' died last year
Reuters
Laura Proto19 January 2016

Islamic State has confirmed that Jihadi John was killed in a drone strike in Syria last year.

A media outlet associated with the extremist group released a eulogy this evening that said the militant died in Raqqa in November.

On November 13, the US military said it was "reasonably certain" Jihadi John, whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi, was killed in a clean hit. But Islamic State did not confirm he had died.

Islamic State's Dabiq magazine today confirmed he was killed "as the car he was in was targeted in a strike by an unmanned drone in the city of Raqqa, destroying the car and killing him instantly".

Emwazi, who was a British citizen of Arab origin, was described in the online magazine by his nickname in the group of "Abu Muharib al-Muhajir".

The magazine's eulogy also claimed Emwazi was able to trick MI5 officers as he travelled from the UK to Kuwait as he "pretended to be unintelligent".

The magazine said: "Right under the nose of the much-overrated MI5 British intelligence agency, Abu Muharib together with his companion in hijrah carefully and secretly made their departure, utilising every means available to them."

A smiling picture of the militant, who appears unmasked looking towards the ground, accompanies the text, which is written in tribute form to a man they describe as an "honourable brother".

The eulogy also claims that Emwazi was known among the militant group for his "mercy, kindness and generosity" along with his "protective jealousy for Islam and its people".

The extremist featured in multiple Islamic State videos showing beheadings of British and American hostages.

He first came to the world's attention after appearing in the execution video of American journalist James Foley.

His face was covered apart from his eyes and his British accent could be heard clearly.

Emwazi later appeared in several other videos of beheadings, including those of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.

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