.
A video posted online claims to show that Islamic
State militants have killed the captured US aid
worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig.
The video shows a masked man standing over a
severed head which he says is that of Mr Kassig.
The US says it is working to determine the
authenticity of the video, which also shows a
mass beheading of 18 Syrian troops.
Mr Kassig, also known as Peter, was captured
last year.
His family, who live in the US state of Indiana,
said they were awaiting confirmation of the
reports about their "treasured son".
"We prefer our son is written about and
remembered for his important work and the love
he shared with friends and family, not in the
manner the hostage takers would use to
manipulate Americans and further their cause,"
the family said in a statement.
according to frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent...
This is perhaps the most elaborate and graphic
of all the murder videos posted online by IS.
Much of it is taken up with a recent history
lesson on Iraq and Syria as seen through the
eyes of the jihadists. But the latter part shows
the beheading of 18 Syrian prisoners in revolting,
lingering detail.
Unlike earlier videos, this one revels in gore.
Amongst the boiler-suited captives murdered in
cold blood is a man IS says is the former US
soldier Peter Kassig, who converted to Islam and
changed his name to Abdul-Rahman.
Neither his conversion, nor the fact that he was
helping refugees when he was captured a year
ago, appear to have saved him.
Mr Kassig's murder is a sign of frustration that
IS militants are unable to hit back at the coalition
air strikes that have driven them off key sites like
the Mosul and Haditha dams, and prevented them
from seizing the town of Kobane.
MAILS SENT BY KASING BEFORE HE DIED...
Here, in this land, I have found my calling. I have
lived a selfish life, I have run until I could not run
anymore.
I do not know much, every day that I am here I
have more questions and less answers, but what
I do know is that I have a chance to do
something here, to take a stand. To make a
difference.
Mail to his mentors...
I may never be a hero, but there is beauty in
survival and grace in finding a way to live
amongst hardship even if there is no silver lining.
To attain a pureness of spirit I must never stop
working to improve myself. It is okay to be happy
and content but satisfaction and complacency
should be guarded against at all costs.
Mail to his friends...
How will I tell you of the walls riddled with bullets
and the flowers that grow over them? (...)
War never ends, it just moves around. But we will
be there too and when they come so will we.
Loss and destruction in this land brings about
only survival; the determination to press on and
rebuild (...)
To rubble and dust and back again. there's just
nothing else. I can't be sure but I think I'm
starting believe that as beautiful as it is to finish
building a house, it's a better feeling laying the
first brick again after its been torn down.
Mail to his parents...
We have been held together, us foreigners (...)
Mentally I am pretty sure this is the hardest thing
a man can go through, the stress and fear are
incredible but I am coping as best I can. I am not
alone. I have friends, we laugh, we play chess, we
play trivia to stay sharp, and we share stories
and dreams of home and loved ones (...)
They tell us you have abandoned us and/or don't
care but of course we know you are doing
everything you can and more. Don't worry Dad, if
I do go down, I won't go thinking anything but
what I know to be true. That you and mom love
me more than the moon & the stars.
I am obviously pretty scared to die but the
hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping,
and wondering if I should even hope at all. I am
very sad that all this has happened and for what
all of you back home are going through. If I do
die, I figure that at least you and I can seek
refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as
a result of trying to alleviate suffering and
helping those in need...
R.I.P Abdul-Rahman Kassig
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