February 3, 2015
- Moaz al-Kasasbeh is filmed being burnt alive while locked in a cage
- He was captured in December after his jet crashed over ISIS-held territory
- Jordan has confirmed pilot was brutally murdered by ISIS on January 3
- White House condemned killing, saying it ‘stands in solidarity’ with Jordan
- In response to sickening footage, Jordan has reportedly moved five ISIS-linked prisoners to a prison in the south of the country
- Kingdom released a statement saying all five would be executed tonight
Militants fighting for the Islamic State terror group in Syria and Iraq have released a video they claim shows Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burnt alive while locked in a cage.
The footage, which is titled ‘Healing the Believers’ Chests’ appears to show the captured airman wearing an orange jumpsuit as a trail of petrol leading up to the cage is seen being set alight.
Flames are seen quickly spreading to the cage where they completely engulf the helpless pilot in images that are far too distressing to publish.
The release of the video has prompted Jordan to announce it will execute all prisoners convicted of association with ISIS ‘within hours’. This includes Sajida al-Rishawi – the female failed suicide bomber whom ISIS had originally demanded Jordan release in exchange for Kasasbeh.
Within an hour of the video’s publication, Jordan reportedly moved five ISIS-linked prisoners to a jail in the south of the country which is usually used for state executions.
Kasasbeh was captured by ISIS after his F-16 fighter jet crashed in territory controlled by the militants in northern Syria in December.
US President Barack Obama says that if the video turns out to be authentic, it would be more evidence of the group’s ‘viciousness and barbarity.’
He added that the U.S. would ‘redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of our global coalition to make sure they are degraded and ultimately defeated,’ adding that the footage serves to indicate that ‘whatever ideology they are operating out of is bankrupt.’
The footage showing Kasasbeh’s gruesome murder appears to be professionally shot and edited in the style of the horrific beheading videos featuring the terror group’s executioner in chief, Jihadi John.
The video, which is ISIS’ most sickening yet, begins with a lengthy montage showing Jordan’s King Abdullah II declaring his support for the anti-ISIS coalition in the style of a TV news report.
It then cuts to beaten and bruised-looking Kasasbeh sitting in a darkened room wearing an orange jump suit and giving details of his training as a pilot, the anti-ISIS airstrikes he took part in, and details of crash in which his F-16 jet came down in jihadi-held territory.
The video comes just days after ISIS’ British executioner in chief, Jihadi John, savagely murdered Japanese journalist Kenji Goto in a shocking filmed beheading after days of intensive negotiations through intermediaries to save him.
Yesterday Jordanian government spokesman Momeni said: ‘All state organisations have been mobilised to secure the proof of life that we require so that he can be freed and returned to his home.’
‘We are still ready to hand over the convict Sajida al-Rishawi in return for the return of our son and our hero,’ Mohammad al-Momani added.
He condemned the jihadists’ murder of Japanese journalist 47-yer-old Goto after days of intensive efforts through intermediaries to save him, adding: ‘We spared no effort, in coordination with the Japanese government, to save his life.’
The release of the horrific footage appears to confirm rumours heard by anti-ISIS activists in the terror group’s stronghold Raqqa in early January that the pilot had already been killed by burning.
Jordan later confirmed that Kasasbeh was murdered one month ago, on January 3.
The shocking video comes just days after ISIS’ British executioner in chief, Jihadi John, savagely murdered Japanese journalist Kenji Goto in a shocking filmed beheading after days of intensive negotiations
Mr Goto joined a list of other victims of Jihadi John, including fellow Japanese national Haruna Yukawa (left). British aid workers David Haines (centre), and Alan Henning (right) have also been murdered
US journalist James Foley (left) was the first to appear alongside Jihadi John in one of the sickening videos, followed by Steven Sotloff (centre). American aid worker Peter Kassig (right) was also murdered by ISIS
The White House this afternoon said the U.S. intelligence community was working to authenticate the video, adding that it condemned the militant group.
‘The United States strongly condemns ISIL’s actions and we call for the immediate release of all those held captive by ISIL,’ White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, using an alternative acronym for ISIS.
‘We stand in solidarity with the Government of Jordan and the Jordanian people,’ she said.
Last week Jordan vowed to fast-track the execution of Sajida al-Rishawi if ISIS kills Kasasbeh.
It apparently warned ISIS that she and other jailed ISIS commanders would be ‘quickly judged and sentenced’ in revenge for the execution of the pilot.
Source: Daily Mail