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US hostage Kassig beheaded, says IS

November 16, 2014

The self-proclaimed Islamic State has released a video purporting to show the beheading of an American hostage, Abdul-Rahman Kassig. The video also shows what appears to be a mass beheading of captured Syrian soldiers.

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Image: picture-alliance/AP/Kassig Family

In the nearly 16-minute video uploaded to social networks on Sunday, a militant dressed in black with his face concealed stands before a severed head that he claims is that of the captive US aid worker.

Kassig, 26, was captured last year while helping provide medical aid to Syrians. His friends say he converted to Islam in captivity and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman.

The video also showed what appeared to be the mass beheading of several captured Syrian soldiers.

It was not immediately possible to confirm that Kassig was pictured in the video. Family representatives were not immediately available for comment.

glb/tj (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)

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Screenshot Youtube Botschaft der Familie Kassig

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