FBI identifies Islamic State hostage executioner

The United States has identified the masked Islamic State militant who murdered two kidnapped American journalists in separate videotaped beheadings, FBI chief James Comey said.

The jihadist organisation triggered global outrage when it released videos of a man with a British accent killing first James Foley then Steven Sotloff, freelance journalists who were kidnapped in Syria.

Mr Comey did not confirm or deny reports that the suspect in the killing was British, but said the FBI was concerned that another film from the Islamic State group features someone with a North American accent.

The Islamic State group has seized a large tract of territory spanning eastern Syria and north-western Iraq, in a brutal and bloody campaign.

more: FBI identifies Islamic State hostage executioner

The United States has identified the masked Islamic State militant who murdered two kidnapped American journalists in separate videotaped beheadings, FBI chief James Comey said.

The jihadist organisation triggered global outrage when it released videos of a man with a British accent killing first James Foley then Steven Sotloff, freelance journalists who were kidnapped in Syria.

Mr Comey did not confirm or deny reports that the suspect in the killing was British, but said the FBI was concerned that another film from the Islamic State group features someone with a North American accent.

The Islamic State group has seized a large tract of territory spanning eastern Syria and north-western Iraq, in a brutal and bloody campaign.