Anatomy of Jihadi John's killing spree: How intelligence experts will forensically comb the two ISIS beheading videos for clues in hunt for world's most wanted man
Today experts will begin poring over the execution of Steven
Sotloff in an attempt to glean as many clues as possible to find those
responsible and locate where the murder took place. At first glance the
video of Mr Sotloff may appear almost identical to that of the killing
of James Foley. However, there are a number of details which may appear
minor that provide critical identifying information. Clues in his
appearance, references to the ongoing battles across Iraq and Syria and
the executioner's unique behaviour can all be analysed to pull together
an idea of where and when it occurred. Pictured right is the video of Mr
Sotloff's killing which was released last night. Pictured left is Mr
Sotloff when he was paraded in the Foley video two weeks ago.
Today experts will begin
poring over the execution of Steven Sotloff in an attempt to glean as
many clues as possible to find those responsible and locate where the
murder took place.
At first glance the two videos may appear almost identical. However, there are a number of details which may appear minor that provide critical identifying information.
The horrific but slickly-produced film of Mr Sotloff’s appalling last moments at the hands of the hooded Islamic State fanatic was uploaded to the internet yesterday evening.
Both American journalists were clad in orange overalls, forced to kneel with their hands cuffed behind their backs and then beheaded on a barren, dusty hillside by the left-handed masked killer.
Clues in his appearance, references to the ongoing battles across Iraq and Syria and the executioner's unique behaviour will all be analysed in an effort to piece together a picture of where and when it occurred.
Scroll down for video
Appearance
The masked killer stands behind Mr Sotloff and appears to attack him with a knife. As the murderer slashes at the captive’s neck, the film again fades to black.
Seconds later, the journalist’s body is shown lying on its back in a pool of blood, his severed head placed on his stomach. The footage follows exactly the same format as Mr Foley’s murder.
However Mr Sotloff's facial hair is longer than when he was seen in James Foley's murder video, which was released on August 19.
This indicates the killing took place several days after that of Mr Foley, according to investigative journalist Eliot Higgins.
While this on its own is not definitive proof, together with other clues in the clip the evidence points to the murder taking place at a much later date than Foley's - and recently - despite some observers speculating that both hostages were killed some time ago.
Timeline
References to the clashes at Mosul Dam and Amerli indicate the video has been made very recently. As U.S. bombing attacks were instrumental in beating back ISIS forces from Amerli on Sunday, the video could have been made as late as the last few days.
This, coupled with visible growth in Mr Sotloff's hair and facial hair since the Foley video, provide strong evidence that he was killed very recently.
These clashes are still continuing and the jihadists condemned the U.S. military assistance in the video.
Location
At first glance, the two videos appear to be identical. Both American journalists were clad in orange overalls, forced to kneel with their hands cuffed behind their backs and then beheaded on a barren, dusty hillside by the left-handed masked killer.
In Mr Foley’s video there is a green plain in the distance below the hills and he knelt close to a dusty track.
This information led computer experts to pinpoint the exact location of the killing in the uplands south of IS’s self-declared capital of Raqqa, north-west Syria.
The jihadists, noted for their use of 21st century technology and social media, appear to have noticed this.
In contrast, Mr Sotloff’s video is filmed against a bleaker background, with far fewer geographical features – just a ridge in the background – to identify where it was shot.
Mr Higgins, who used geocaching techniques to pinpoint the location of Mr Foley's murder in the hills of Raqqa, Syria, said it was not possible to identify the location of Mr Sotloff's murder, but added it appeared to be terrain typical of the hills of Raqqa again.
Jihadi John
Mr Sotloff's killer is believed to be the same man who murdered James Foley two weeks ago - known as 'Jihadi John'.
The accent is the same - as acknowledged by the Government today - even though there has been a noticeable attempt to disguise the voice using synthesizer technology.
In what also could prove a vital clue, it's believed the murder weapon used in the beheading is the same that was used to kill Mr Foley.
Both murders were carried out by someone left-handed - which only one in 10 of the population are.
Voice recognition technology will be used and this represents the best chance of establishing that it is the same man involved.
Experts even used vein recognition to analyse the hands of Mr Foley's murderer and a rough composite mugshot of what he looked like - based simply on the killer's eyes - was released in the days following his death.
Production and Edit
The makers of the clips used multiple cameras, and professional microphones for polished production techniques – in stark contrast to earlier beheading videos circulated via the internet, which used grainy and chaotic camcorder footage.
They also used graphics and visual effects, plus editing tools to cut film of Mr Sotloff with video of Obama’s press conference.
A microphone has been attached to Mr Sotloff's lapel. But when his speech is finished, a new frame shows it has been removed, and is presumably attached underneath the executioner's hood.
This may indicate it is the killer providing the speaking commentary in the video.
The jihadists have also put a filter on Mr Sotloff's voice to take away the wind sound - likely to be through a programme such as Sound Track Pro.
The footage is also slightly over-exposed, so they’ve added contrast - when the contrast is adjusted the colour also needs to be boosted, which is why the orange is so vibrant.
The lack of consistency in editing techniques exposes clues and it is possible the first and second sections of the video have been edited by two different people. In footage about President Obama, the video is fairly clean and uses effects, whereas the footage of Mr Sotloff is very basic editing.
The quality of the videos is unsurprising: IS boasts an estimated 2,000 recruits from Europe, many of whom are well-educated, with backgrounds in IT or film production.
Executioner:
'I’m back Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic state, because of your insistence on continuing your bombings and… on Mosul Dam, despite our serious warnings.
'You Obama, have but to gain from your actions but another American citizen.
'So just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.
'We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone'
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From the killer's calm voice to the barren backdrop of the grisly scene, security services forensically comb execution video for clues
- Expert says both Sotloff and Foley videos feature the same murder weapon
- Sotloff's beard indicates killing took place 'several days' after Foley's death
- Killer also mentions recent US bombing raids on Mosul and Amerli
- More difficult to pinpoint location but terrain similar to hills around Raqqa
- Killer's accent same as 'Jihadi John' in Foley video despite noticeable attempts made to disguise it
- Both American journalists clad in orange overalls and forced to kneel
- Hands were cuffed behind their backs and they were beheaded on hillside
At first glance the two videos may appear almost identical. However, there are a number of details which may appear minor that provide critical identifying information.
The horrific but slickly-produced film of Mr Sotloff’s appalling last moments at the hands of the hooded Islamic State fanatic was uploaded to the internet yesterday evening.
Both American journalists were clad in orange overalls, forced to kneel with their hands cuffed behind their backs and then beheaded on a barren, dusty hillside by the left-handed masked killer.
Clues in his appearance, references to the ongoing battles across Iraq and Syria and the executioner's unique behaviour will all be analysed in an effort to piece together a picture of where and when it occurred.
Scroll down for video
The gruesome video of Steven Sotloff's murder
was almost identical to the clip of James Foley's killing released
exactly a fortnight ago
Appearance
The masked killer stands behind Mr Sotloff and appears to attack him with a knife. As the murderer slashes at the captive’s neck, the film again fades to black.
Seconds later, the journalist’s body is shown lying on its back in a pool of blood, his severed head placed on his stomach. The footage follows exactly the same format as Mr Foley’s murder.
However Mr Sotloff's facial hair is longer than when he was seen in James Foley's murder video, which was released on August 19.
This indicates the killing took place several days after that of Mr Foley, according to investigative journalist Eliot Higgins.
While this on its own is not definitive proof, together with other clues in the clip the evidence points to the murder taking place at a much later date than Foley's - and recently - despite some observers speculating that both hostages were killed some time ago.
Timeline
References to the clashes at Mosul Dam and Amerli indicate the video has been made very recently. As U.S. bombing attacks were instrumental in beating back ISIS forces from Amerli on Sunday, the video could have been made as late as the last few days.
This, coupled with visible growth in Mr Sotloff's hair and facial hair since the Foley video, provide strong evidence that he was killed very recently.
These clashes are still continuing and the jihadists condemned the U.S. military assistance in the video.
Both Mr Sotloff and Mr Foley appear to have been killed by the same man: a British fighter who has been dubbed 'Jihadi John'
Location
At first glance, the two videos appear to be identical. Both American journalists were clad in orange overalls, forced to kneel with their hands cuffed behind their backs and then beheaded on a barren, dusty hillside by the left-handed masked killer.
In Mr Foley’s video there is a green plain in the distance below the hills and he knelt close to a dusty track.
This information led computer experts to pinpoint the exact location of the killing in the uplands south of IS’s self-declared capital of Raqqa, north-west Syria.
The jihadists, noted for their use of 21st century technology and social media, appear to have noticed this.
In contrast, Mr Sotloff’s video is filmed against a bleaker background, with far fewer geographical features – just a ridge in the background – to identify where it was shot.
Mr Higgins, who used geocaching techniques to pinpoint the location of Mr Foley's murder in the hills of Raqqa, Syria, said it was not possible to identify the location of Mr Sotloff's murder, but added it appeared to be terrain typical of the hills of Raqqa again.
Jihadi John
Mr Sotloff's killer is believed to be the same man who murdered James Foley two weeks ago - known as 'Jihadi John'.
The accent is the same - as acknowledged by the Government today - even though there has been a noticeable attempt to disguise the voice using synthesizer technology.
In what also could prove a vital clue, it's believed the murder weapon used in the beheading is the same that was used to kill Mr Foley.
Both murders were carried out by someone left-handed - which only one in 10 of the population are.
Voice recognition technology will be used and this represents the best chance of establishing that it is the same man involved.
Experts even used vein recognition to analyse the hands of Mr Foley's murderer and a rough composite mugshot of what he looked like - based simply on the killer's eyes - was released in the days following his death.
MOMENTS BEFORE HIS DEATH, STEVEN SOTLOFF'S FINAL WORDS:
A Second Message to America:
'I am Steven Joel Sotloff.
'I’m sure you know exactly who I am by now and why I am appearing before you.
'And now this is the time for my message:
'Obama, your foreign policy of intervention in Iraq was supposed to be the preservation of American lives and interests, so why is that I am paying the price of your interference with my life?
'Am I not an American citizen?
'We’ve spent billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and we’ve lost thousands of our troops in our previous fighting against the Islamic State, so what are the people’s interests in reigniting war?
'From what little I know about foreign policy, I remember a time when you could not win an election without promising to bring our troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan and to close down Guantanamo.
'Here you are now, Obama, nearing the end of your term, and having achieved none of the above and deceivingly marching us the American people in the blazing fire.'
Taunting Obama: Sotloff's masked executioner tells the camera that the killing is in retaliation for US airstrikes in Iraq
'I am Steven Joel Sotloff.
'I’m sure you know exactly who I am by now and why I am appearing before you.
'And now this is the time for my message:
'Obama, your foreign policy of intervention in Iraq was supposed to be the preservation of American lives and interests, so why is that I am paying the price of your interference with my life?
'Am I not an American citizen?
'We’ve spent billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and we’ve lost thousands of our troops in our previous fighting against the Islamic State, so what are the people’s interests in reigniting war?
'From what little I know about foreign policy, I remember a time when you could not win an election without promising to bring our troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan and to close down Guantanamo.
'Here you are now, Obama, nearing the end of your term, and having achieved none of the above and deceivingly marching us the American people in the blazing fire.'
The makers of the clips used multiple cameras, and professional microphones for polished production techniques – in stark contrast to earlier beheading videos circulated via the internet, which used grainy and chaotic camcorder footage.
They also used graphics and visual effects, plus editing tools to cut film of Mr Sotloff with video of Obama’s press conference.
A microphone has been attached to Mr Sotloff's lapel. But when his speech is finished, a new frame shows it has been removed, and is presumably attached underneath the executioner's hood.
This may indicate it is the killer providing the speaking commentary in the video.
The jihadists have also put a filter on Mr Sotloff's voice to take away the wind sound - likely to be through a programme such as Sound Track Pro.
The footage is also slightly over-exposed, so they’ve added contrast - when the contrast is adjusted the colour also needs to be boosted, which is why the orange is so vibrant.
The lack of consistency in editing techniques exposes clues and it is possible the first and second sections of the video have been edited by two different people. In footage about President Obama, the video is fairly clean and uses effects, whereas the footage of Mr Sotloff is very basic editing.
The quality of the videos is unsurprising: IS boasts an estimated 2,000 recruits from Europe, many of whom are well-educated, with backgrounds in IT or film production.
'I'M BACK OBAMA': MASKED EXECUTIONERS CHILLING THREAT TO CAMERA
Executioner:
'I’m back Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic state, because of your insistence on continuing your bombings and… on Mosul Dam, despite our serious warnings.
'You Obama, have but to gain from your actions but another American citizen.
'So just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.
'We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone'
copy http://www.dailymail.co.uk
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