The footage showing the beheading of American photojournalist James Foley by Islamic State militants is real, confirmed National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden on Wednesday.
“We have reached the judgment that this video is authentic,” Hayden said, according to USA Today.
The graphic video shows the 40-year-old kneeling in orange attire next to a masked militant brandishing a knife.
After allowing Foley to read what appears to be a scripted statement in which he says the recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq “signed my death warrant,” the hooded captor says, “Any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their right to live in safety under the Islamic caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people.”
President Obama responded to the video by condemning ISIL (or ISIS) and vowed to bring the killer to justice.
“The United States of America will continue to do what we must do to protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless,” said President Obama. “When people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done.”
Meanwhile, Foley’s mother released a statement on Tuesday celebrating the life of her brave son.
“He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person,” said Diane Foley on a Facebook Post.
There have been and will be many more beheadings… because it is called for in the Quran. Islam, a religion of “peace?” Hardly! It is a political ideology of violence, torture, murder, submission, death, and destruction. And we must keep it out of the USA!