The name of the man known as “Jihadi John,” who appears in Islamic State propaganda videos, has been revealed. According to reports, he is Kuwaiti-born Mohammed Emwazi. He grew up in London from a prosperous family.
The Washington Post reports that Emwazi, who speaks with a British accent, is believed to have taken a trip to Syria in 2012. There, he joined the extremist group, known as ISIS or ISIL. As a star of the group’s propaganda videos, he has symbolized the group’s barbarism and violent acts.
“I have no doubt that Mohammed is Jihadi John,” a close friend of Emwazi told the Post. “He was like a brother to me. . . . I am sure it is him.”
Emwazi is believed to be the same man who executed American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in ISIS videos. In September, FBI director James B. Comey said that officials believed they had already identified him, but did not release his name. British security services also previously knew of him.
Emwazi is also believed to be in videos that show the beheadings of British aid worker David Haines, British taxi driver Alan Henning, and American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, reports BBC News.
“Our prime minister has been clear that we want all those who have committed murder on behalf of ISIL to face justice for the appalling acts carried out,” a British embassy spokesman told the Post. “There is an ongoing police investigation into the murder of hostages by ISIL in Syria. It is not appropriate for the government to comment on any part of it while this continues.”
Emwazi is in his mid-20s, but he left little trace of his life on social media. He was raised in a middle-class neighborhood in London and graduated from the University of Westminster.
Hostages that ISIS has released say that Emwazi was one of four British ISIS members what abducted Westerners had nicknamed “The Beatles,” giving each member a name of the rock group.
screenshot via BBC News YouTube video