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{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jihadi John

| image = Jihadi John.jpg{{!}}border

| alt =

| caption = Emwazi wearing a mask in a video of a killing

| birth_name = Muhammad Jassim Abdulkarim Olayan [[Al-Dhafeer|al-Dhafiri]]

| birth_place = [[Kuwait]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31700907|title=Mother recognised Mohammed Emwazi's voice on hostage videos |publisher=[[BBC]]|date=2 March 2015}}</ref>

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1988|08|17}}<ref

name=skyadu>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1435642/first-photo-of-jihadi-john-as-adult-revealed|title=First Photo of 'Jihadi John' As Adult Revealed|publisher=[[Sky News]]|date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2015|11|12|1988|08|17|df=y}}}}

| death_place = [[Al-Raqqah]], [[Syria]]

| death_cause = Killed by [[drone strike]]

| citizenship = British<ref name=gualov/>

| education = BSc ([[British undergraduate degree classification#Lower second-class honours|lower second-class honours]]) in Information Systems with Business Management from the [[University of Westminster]] (2009)<ref name=skykin>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1434923/jihadi-john-used-to-be-kind-and-gentle|title='Jihadi John' Used To Be 'Kind And Gentle'|publisher=Sky News|date=27 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11441124/Jihadi-John-Student-record-of-Mohammed-Emwazi-leaked.html|title=Jihadi John: Student record of Mohammed Emwazi leaked|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

| other_names = "Jihadi John"<ref name=indnot>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/jihadi-john-why-do-we-give-criminals-nicknames-10081199.html|title='Jihadi John': Why do we give notorious criminals nicknames?|work=[[The Independent]]|date=2 March 2015}}</ref><br>"John the Beatle"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nypost.com/2014/08/22/hunt-for-jihadist-who-killed-james-foley-intensifies|title=British doctor could lead to jihadist 'John the Beatle|work=[[New York Post]]|date=22 August 2014}}</ref><br>"Jailer John"<ref name=timhun>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article4182624.ece|title=The hunt for British jihadist 'Jailer John'|work=[[The Times]]|date=21 August 2014}}</ref><br>Abu Abdullah al-Britani<ref name=inddoz>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/dozens-of-jihadis-in-fighting-in-syria-using-the-name-albritani-10076635.html|title=Dozens of jihadis in fighting in Syria using the name 'al-Britani'|work=The Independent|date=27 February 2015}}</ref><br>Abu Muharib al-Yemeni<ref name=itvhat>{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2015-02-26/jihadi-john-a-quiet-man-who-hated-britain-and-was-always-ready-for-war|title=Jihadi John: A quiet man who hated Britain and was 'always ready for war'|work=[[ITV News]]|date=25 February 2015}}</ref><br>Mohammed al-Ayan<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/02/26/mohammed-emwazi_n_6759714.html|title=Mohammed Emwazi Revealed As Jihad John: What We Know About Islamic State's Most Wanted Man|work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=2 March 2015}}</ref><br>Muhammad ibn Muazzam<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mohammed-emwazi-man-identified-as-isis-killer-jihadi-john-was-stopped-by-mi5-while-on-safari-holiday-in-africa-in-2010-10071972.html|title=Mohammed Emwazi: Man identified as Isis killer 'Jihadi John' 'stopped by MI5' while on safari holiday in Africa in 2010|work=The Independent|date=26 February 2015}}</ref><br>Mohammed Al-Zuhary<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/02/the-moment-jihadi-john-may-have-become-a-terrorist|title=The moment Jihadi John may have become a terrorist|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2 March 2015}}</ref>

| criminal_charge = Involvement in multiple [[Beheading in Islamism|beheading]]s

| religion = [[Sunni Islam]]

|module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes

|allegiance = [[Al-Nusra Front]],<ref name=itvhat/> then<br>[[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]]<ref name=itvhat/>

|branch =

|serviceyears = 2013–2015<ref name=guabest>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/01/mohammed-emwazi-best-employee-we-ever-had-former-boss-kuwaiti-it-firm|title='The best employee we ever had': Mohammed Emwazi's former boss in Kuwait|work=The Guardian|date=2 March 2015}}</ref>

|rank =

|battles =

'''Syria'''

* [[Syrian Civil War]]

* [[American-led intervention in Syria]]

}}

}}

'''Mohammed Emwazi''' (born '''Muhammad Jassim Abdulkarim Olayan al-Dhafiri'''; 17 August 1988 – presumably 12 November 2015) was a [[British Arabs|British Arab]] man alleged to be the person seen in several videos produced by the [[Islamic extremist]] group [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] showing the [[ISIL beheading incidents|beheadings of a number of captives in 2014 and 2015]]<!--Please use neither execution or murder as both are not NPOV see talk page -->. A group of his hostages nicknamed him "'''Jihadi John'''" since he was part of a four-person terrorist cell with [[British accent]]s whom they called [[The Beatles (terrorist cell)|"The Beatles"]].

On 12 November 2015, US officials reported that Emwazi had been hit by a [[drone strike]] in [[Al-Raqqah]], [[Syria]], and the following day, UK officials stated a "high degree of certainty" that Emwazi was killed.<ref name="guardian1115">{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/13/us-air-strike-targets-mohammed-emwazi-uk-terrorist-known-as-jihadi-john |title='Jihadi John': high degree of certainty US airstrike killed Mohammed Emwazi, sources say |work=The Guardian |date=13 November 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==

Emwazi was born Muhammad Jassim Abdulkarim Olayan [[Al-Dhafeer|al-Dhafiri]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/spies-were-so-much-on-emwazis-case-they-bought-his-computer/story-fnb64oi6-1227245254489|title=Spies were so much on Emwazi's case they bought his computer |work=[[The Australian]]|date=3 March 2015}}</ref> on 17 August 1988 in [[Kuwait]]<ref name=skyadu /> to Jassem and Ghaneyah.<ref name=guabest /> The family, who were [[Bedoon]] of [[Iraqi people|Iraqi origin]],<ref name=guabest /> moved to the United Kingdom in 1994 when he was six.<ref name=bbcpro>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31641569 |title=Islamic State: Profile of Mohammed Emwazi aka 'Jihadi John' |publisher=BBC News |date=27 February 2015}}</ref> They settled in inner west London, moving between several properties in [[Maida Vale]],<ref name=telcon>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11438747/Mohammed-Emwazi-timeline-from-school-years-with-Tulisa-Contostavlos-to-becoming-Jihadi-John.html |title=On the trail of Jihadi John, the slaughterer from Maida Vale |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 February 2015 |page=2}}</ref> later living in [[St John's Wood]] and finally in [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]].<ref name=telcon /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article4366957.ece |title=Pious teenager who turned intoa zealot and heartless murderer |last=Hamilton |first=Fiona |work=The Times |date=27 February 2015 |page=2 |registration=yes}}</ref> Emwazi attended St Mary Magdalene Church of England primary school, and later [[Quintin Kynaston Community Academy|Quintin Kynaston School]].<ref name=gualov>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/02/who-is-mohammed-emwazi-from-lovely-boy-to-islamic-state-executioner |title=Who is Mohammed Emwazi? From 'lovely boy' to Islamic State killer |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2 March 2015}}</ref>

In 2006, he went to the [[University of Westminster]], studying [[Information System]]s with [[Management|Business Management]]. He secured a [[British undergraduate degree classification#Lower second-class honours|lower second-class]] [[Bachelor of Science|BSc (Hons)]] on graduation three years later.<ref name=gualov /> At age 21, he worked as a salesman at an IT company in [[Kuwait]] and was considered by his boss as the best employee the company ever had.<ref name=guabest />

==Nicknames==

Emwazi was given the nickname "John" by a group of his hostages. The hostages said that he was part of a terrorist cell they called "[[The Beatles (terrorist cell)|The&nbsp;Beatles]]", and that he guarded Western hostages while handling communications with their families. The nickname refers to [[John Lennon]] of [[the Beatles]], and the three other group members share the first names of the other Beatles. The cell members all had British accents.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/how-london-rapper-l-jinny-became-jihadi-john-suspected-of-beheading-james-foley-20140825-107zdz.html |title=How London rapper L Jinny became Jihadi John, suspected of beheading James Foley |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=5 August 2014}}</ref> The nicknames "Jihadi John", "Jailer John" and "John the Beatle" were created by the press.<ref name=indnot />

[[Ringo Starr]] expressed his disgust at the use of his former band's name in this context, saying: "It's bullshit. What they are doing out there is against everything the Beatles stood for," saying that the Beatles had stood for peace and opposed violence.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Watts|first1=Matt|title=Ringo Starr takes on IS over Beatles nickname: 'It's bulls**t... We stood for peace and love'|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/ringo-starr-takes-on-is-over-beatles-nickname-its-bullst-we-stood-for-peace-and-love-9711463.html|accessdate=17 September 2014|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|date=4 September 2014}}</ref>

==Victims==

{{see also|ISIL beheading incidents}}

Following are reported victims of Jihadi John.

===James Foley===

{{main|James Foley (journalist)}}

In a video uploaded to YouTube on 19 August 2014, Foley read a prepared statement criticising the United States, the recent airstrikes in Iraq, and his brother who serves in the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name=rayner/> Emwazi, wearing a mask, also read a prepared statement in which he criticised America and President [[Barack Obama]] and made demands to cease the [[American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present)|2014 American-led intervention in Iraq]].<ref name=rayner/> The masked man then beheaded Foley off-camera, after which he threatened to behead [[Steven Sotloff]] if his demands were not met. The [[FBI]] and [[United States National Security Council]] confirmed that the video, which included footage of Foley's beheaded corpse, was genuine.<ref name=rayner/>

===Steven Sotloff===

{{main|Steven Sotloff}}

On 2 September 2014, a video was released reportedly showing American journalist [[Steven Sotloff]]'s beheading by Emwazi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/isis-video-steven-sotloff-beheading|title=Isis video purports to show execution of US journalist Steven Sotloff|work=The Guardian|author=Paul Lewis|date=2 September 2014|accessdate=2 September 2014}}</ref> The [[White House]] confirmed the video's authenticity.<ref name=foxnews>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/03/video-reportedly-shows-beheading-reporter-steven-sotloff-by-isis/|title=White House confirms authenticity of ISIS video showing beheading of reporter|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|author=Joshua Rhett Miller/AP|date=3 September 2014|accessdate=3 September 2014}}</ref>

===David Haines===

{{main|David Cawthorne Haines}}

On 13 September 2014, a video, directed at British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], was released, showing British hostage aid worker David Haines being beheaded by Emwazi.<ref name="ISIS executes British aid worker David Haines; Cameron vows justice">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/13/world/meast/isis-haines-family-message/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |title=ISIS executes British aid worker David Haines; Cameron vows justice |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=13 September 2014}}</ref>

===Alan Henning===

{{main|Alan Henning}}

On 3 October 2014, a video released by ISIS showed Emwazi beheading British aid worker Alan Henning. Henning, a taxi driver from [[Salford, Greater Manchester]], had volunteered to deliver aid to Syria when he was kidnapped in [[Al-Dana, Syria|Al-Dana]], an area held by ISIS, on 27 December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29486118|title=World reacts to IS video showing apparent killing of Alan Henning|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=4 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29199086|title=Alan Henning: An ordinary man who wanted to help Syrians|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

===Peter Kassig===

On 16 November 2014 a video was posted by ISIS of Emwazi standing over a severed head, which the [[White House]] confirmed was that of Peter Kassig.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/11/16/peter-kassig-islamic-state-claims-beheading-syria/19128067 |title=U.S. review of Islamic State video confirms American's death |work=[[USA Today]] |date=16 November 2014}}</ref> Kassig's actual beheading was not shown, and unlike earlier hostage beheading videos he did not make a statement.

===Syrian soldiers===

The video that ended with a shot of Kassig's severed head showed the beheadings of 21 Syrian soldiers in gruesome detail, by a group led by a masked Emwazi. It was said by the [[BBC]] that, unlike previous videos, this one shows the faces of many of the militants, indicates the location as being [[Dabiq]] in Aleppo Province, and that this video "revels in gore." Unlike previous videos that cut away without showing the killing, Emwazi is shown beheading a victim.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30073602|title=Abdul-Rahman Kassig: US hostage 'killed by IS'|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

===Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto===

{{main|Kenji Goto|Haruna Yukawa}}

[[Haruna Yukawa]], age 42, was captured sometime before August 2014. [[Kenji Goto]], age 47, was captured sometime in October 2014 while trying to rescue Yukawa. In January 2015, they were threatened to be killed unless the [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]] paid a ransom of 200ドル&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/20/us-mideast-crisis-islamicstate-japan-idUSKBN0KT0GI20150120 |title=Islamic State threatens two Japanese captives in video |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Yukawa was beheaded on 24 January, and Goto on 31 January 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31252341 |title=Islamic State crisis: Jordan air strikes 'destroy' IS hideouts |publisher=BBC News |date=8 February 2015}}</ref>

==Hostages==

It was claimed in August 2014 that ISIS held more than 20 hostages.<ref name=guardian-chulov>{{cite news|last1=Chulov|first1=Martin|title=Islamic State militants seize four more foreign hostages in Syria|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/20/islamic-state-isis-foreign-hostages-syria-aleppo|accessdate=23 August 2014|work=The Guardian|date=20 August 2014}}</ref> Many hostage families chose not to reveal their relatives' names to avoid drawing attention to them and compromising their safety.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} All or nearly all of the Europeans were ransomed by their countries{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}. However, laws in the US and the UK, among many developed countries, prohibit payment of ransoms.<ref name="thedailybeast1">{{cite web|author=Shane Harris|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/16/a-26-year-old-woman-is-isis-s-last-american-hostage.html|title=A 26-Year-Old Woman Is ISIS's Last American Hostage|work=The Daily Beast|accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref>

===John Cantlie===

{{main|John Cantlie}}

Cantlie is a British citizen held hostage who has appeared in a series of ISIL videos. He was kidnapped along with James Foley on 22 November 2012.

==Analysis of videos==

===Official analysis===

Officially the [[FBI]] and [[United States National Security Council]] confirmed that the James Foley video, which ended with footage of a beheaded corpse, was genuine.<ref name=rayner/> David Cameron and the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|British Foreign Office]] also confirmed the authenticity of the video showing the death of [[David Cawthorne Haines|David Haines]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/david-haines-beheading-british-pm-vows-to-hunt-down-those-responsible-1.2765792|title=David Haines beheading: British PM vows to 'hunt down those responsible'|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|author=CThe Associated Press|date=14 September 2014}}</ref>

The videos were produced and distributed by [[Al Hayat Media Center]], a media outlet of ISIS that is under the authority of the ISIS's official propaganda arm, the Al-Itisam Establishment for Media Production, that targets specifically Western and non-Arabic speaking audiences.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/g%C3%BCnther-der-islamische-staat-agiert-hochgradig-rational/a-17866907|title=Der 'Islamische Staat' agiert hochgradig rational|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|author=Christoph Günther|date=20 August 2014}}</ref>

===Unofficial analysis===

An unnamed forensics expert commissioned by ''[[The Times]]'' to look at the James Foley video said, "I think it has been staged. My feeling is that the murder may have happened after the camera was stopped." ''The Times'' concluded that "No one is questioning that the photojournalist [[James Foley (journalist)|James Foley]] was beheaded, but camera trickery and slick post-production techniques appear to have been used."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://failover-www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4186089.html|title=Foley video with Briton was staged, experts say|work=[[The Times]]|author=Deborah Haynes|date=25 August 2014|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> Two unnamed video specialists in the ''[[International Business Times|International Business Times of Australia]]'' claimed that portions of the video appeared to be staged and edited.<ref name="IBTAustralia">{{cite news|title=James Foley Beheading Video Has Play-Acting Portions – Video Experts Say|url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/563629/20140822/james-foley-beheading-video.htm#.U_fkW7GTDK3|date=23 August 2014|accessdate=23 August 2014|publisher=International Business Times of Australia}}</ref> Dr James Alvarez, a British-American hostage negotiator, also claimed the James Foley video was "expertly staged", with the use of two separate cameras and a clip-on microphone attached to Foley's orange jumpsuit.<ref name=rayner/> Jeff Smith, Associate Director of the CU Denver National Center for Media Forensics, said "What's most interesting is that the actual beheading that takes place in the videos, both of them are staged."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/09/03/media-forensics-experts-analyzing-isis-video/|title=Media Forensics Experts Analyzing ISIS Video in Denver|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref>

British analyst [[Eliot Higgins]] (Brown Moses) published photographic and video forensic evidence suggesting that the James Foley video was taken at a spot in the hills south of the Syrian city of [[Al-Raqqah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/fr/20140824-irak-ei-execution-james-foley-jihadi-john-enquete-mi5-mi6-localisation-etat-islamique-raqqa|title=France 24: ''Exécution de James Foley: la traque de "Jihadi John" est lancée''|publisher=France 24|accessdate=11 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bellingcat.com/resources/case-studies/2014/08/23/the-hills-of-raqqa-geolocating-the-james-foley-video/|title=Bellingcat: ''The Hills of Raqqa – Geolocating the James Foley Video''|accessdate=11 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/08/25/exp-erin-sciutto-where-was-foley-killed.cnn.html|title=Is this where James Foley was killed?|publisher=CNN|accessdate=11 September 2014}}</ref>

==Identification and manhunt==

{{see also|The Beatles (terrorist cell)}}

===Search for identity and early speculation===

{{see also|United Kingdom and ISIL|Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary}}

'Jihadi John' became the subject of a manhunt by the [[FBI]], [[MI5]], and [[Metropolitan Police Service|Scotland Yard]].<ref name=video/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sparrow|first1=Andrew|title=PM returns from holiday after video shows US reporter beheaded by Briton|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/20/isis-fighter-beheaded-us-journalist-james-foley-appears-british-hammond|accessdate=20 August 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPYZwHmXzI|title=Uncovering James Foley's killer|work=[[The National (CBC)|The National]]|date=21 August 2014|accessdate=22 August 2014}}</ref> In his videos, "Jihadi John" concealed his identity by covering himself from head to toe in black, except for tan desert boots, with a mask that left only his eyes visible.<ref name=video/> Despite this, several facts about 'Jihadi John' could be ascertained from both videos. He spoke with an apparent London or southern England accent<ref name=video>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11044977/Hunt-for-British-Islamic-State-killer-of-US-journalist-James-Foley.html|title=Hunt for 'British' Islamic State killer of US journalist James Foley|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|author=Nick Allen and Philip Sherwell|date=20 August 2014|accessdate=20 August 2014}}</ref> and appeared to have a skin tone consistent with [[African British|African]] or [[South Asian British|South Asian]] descent.<ref name=rayner/> In both videos, he was seen to sport a pistol in a leather [[Handgun holster|shoulder holster]] under his left shoulder, typical of [[right-handed]] people,<ref name=np>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/20/hunt-is-on-for-isis-terrorist-video-yields-clues-to-identity-of-american-journalists-left-handed-executioner|title=Hunt is on for ISIS terrorist: Video yields clues to identity of American journalist’s left-handed executioner|work=[[National Post]]|author=Gordon Rayner, Alastair Beach, Martin Evans, Philip Sherwell|date=20 August 2014|accessdate=3 September 2014}}</ref> but his actions in the videos suggest he is [[left-handed]].<ref name=Fox>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/03/video-reportedly-shows-beheading-reporter-steven-sotloff-by-isis/?pid=tradedesk01&aid=tradedesk01&cid=0511td300x250&c=tradedesk01cont1&w=300&h=250&plc=tr\%22|title=White House confirms authenticity of ISIS video showing beheading of reporter|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|author=Joshua Rhett Miller|date=3 September 2014|accessdate=3 September 2014}}</ref>

Other factors that could have led to his identification were his height, general physique, the pattern of veins on the back of his hands,<ref name=rayner/> his voice and clothes.<ref name=rayner/><ref name=video/> A team of analysts might use the topography of the landscape in the video in an attempt to identify the location.<ref name=rayner>{{cite web|last=Rayner|first=Gordon|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11047420/Video-clues-that-could-unmask-James-Foleys-murderer.html|title=Video clues that could unmask James Foley's murderer|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 August 2014|accessdate=24 August 2014}}</ref> On 24 August 2014, the [[British Ambassador to the United States]], [[Peter Westmacott|Sir Peter Westmacott]], said that Britain was very close to identifying 'Jihadi John' using sophisticated [[Speaker recognition|voice recognition]] technology,<ref>{{cite web|last=Sherwell|first=Philip|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11053836/Britain-very-close-to-identifying-Jihadi-John-suspected-killer-of-James-Foley-says-ambassador.html|title=Britain 'very close' to identifying 'Jihadi John' – suspected killer of James Foley – says ambassador|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 August 2014|accessdate=24 August 2014}}</ref> but when pressed, refused to disclose any other details.<ref>{{cite news|last=Almasy|first=Steve|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/24/world/meast/isis-james-foley/index.html|title=Britain close to identifying James Foley's killer, ambassador says|publisher=CNN|date=26 August 2014|accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref>

On 20 September 2014, the [[United States Senate]] approved a 10ドル&nbsp;million reward for information that led to the capture of anyone involved in the murders of [[James Foley (journalist)|James Foley]], [[Steven Sotloff]] and [[David Cawthorne Haines]], which includes 'Jihadi John'.<ref name=bounty>{{cite news|title=US Senate Approves 10ドルm Bounty for James Foley and Steven Sotloff ISIS Killers|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-senate-approves-10m-bounty-james-foley-steven-sotloff-isis-killers-1466423|date=20 September 2014|accessdate=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 20 November, the bill, extending the potential scope of the reward program to any American kidnapped and murdered by a [[United States State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations|"foreign terrorist organisation"]] and limiting the reward to a maximum of 5ドル&nbsp;million, was referred to the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs]].<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:h.r.05752: "Bill Summary & Status 113th Congress (2013–2014) H.R.5752", Library of Congress]</ref>

On 14 September British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] confirmed that the identity of 'Jihadi John' was known but had yet to be revealed.<ref name="His ID is known, not revealed">{{cite news|title=The British connection to ISIS beheadings|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/14/opinion/bergen-british-connection-isis-beheadings/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|date=14 September 2014|accessdate=14 September 2014|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

On 25 September, [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[James Comey]] told reporters that they had identified the suspect, but did not give information regarding the man's identity or nationality.<ref name=Al-Arabiya-09-26>{{cite news|last1=Crompton|first1=Paul|title=FBI: U.S. identifies ISIS hostage executioner|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/25/U-S-identifies-ISIS-hostage-executioner.html|accessdate=26 September 2014|publisher=[[Al Arabiya]]|date=26 September 2014}}</ref> "I believe that we have identified him. I'm not going to tell you who I believe it is," Comey stated.<ref name=usa-today-09-25>{{cite news|last1=Winter|first1=Michael|title=FBI chief: ISIS militant in beheading videos identified|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/25/fbi-islamic-state-beheadings/16212521/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories|accessdate=26 September 2014|work=[[USA Today]]|date=25 September 2014}}</ref> Michael Ryan, an author and scholar from the [[Middle East Institute]] speculated, "maybe 98 percent of 95 percent sure is not sure enough to put a man's name out."<ref name=Al-Arabiya-09-26/>

In August 2014, ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' reported that [[Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary]] ("L Jinny"), 23, a [[hip-hop]] musician from [[W postcode area|West London]], had "emerged as a key suspect" in the investigation.<ref>Richard Kerbaj, Marie Woolf and Nicky Harley, [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1450781.ece London hip-hop artist key suspect in beheading], ''Sunday Times'', 24 August 2014.</ref><ref name="StandardBary">{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-rapper-abdelmajed-abdel-bary-investigated-as-police-hunt-for-jihadi-john-9687547.html|title=London rapper Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary investigated as police hunt for 'Jihadi John'|work=London Evening Standard|date=23 August 2014|accessdate=24 August 2014}}</ref> Other sources also stated that [[Junaid Hussain|Abu Hussain Al-Britani]], 20, a [[computer hacker]] from [[Birmingham]], and Abu Abdullah al-Britani, in his 20s from [[Portsmouth]], were suspects.<ref name="StandardBary"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/london-hiphop-artist-abdelmajed-abdel-bary-key-suspect-in-hunt-for-killer-of-american-journalist-james-foley/story-fndir2ev-1227034541900 |title=London hip-hop artist Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary key suspect in hunt for killer of American journalist James Foley |publisher=[[News.com.au]] |date=25 August 2014}}</ref>

===Mohammed Emwazi===

On 26 February 2015, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' identified the perpetrator as '''Mohammed Emwazi''', a British man then in his mid-20s who was born in Kuwait and grew up in west London.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/jihadi-john-the-islamic-state-killer-behind-the-mask-is-a-young-londoner/2015/02/25/d6dbab16-bc43-11e4-bdfa-b8e8f594e6ee_story.html |title='Jihadi John': The Islamic State killer behind the mask is a young Londoner |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=26 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="IdentifiedBBC">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31637090 |title='Jihadi John' named as Mohammed Emwazi from London |publisher=BBC News |date=26 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/world/europe/british-intelligence-services-had-early-encounter-with-man-identified-as-isis-fighter.html |title='Jihadi John' From ISIS Execution Videos Was Under Watch by British Intelligence |work=The New York Times |date=26 February 2015}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' investigation was undertaken by [[Souad Mekhennet]] and Adam Goldman.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo"/>

Emwazi was born to Iraqi parents who moved to neighbouring Kuwait from Iraq. When the Kuwaiti government rejected their [[Kuwaiti nationality law|application for citizenship]], in 1994 they moved to Iraq and then on to Britain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/213618/t/Parents-of-IS-executioner-Iraqi/Default.aspx |title=Parents of IS Executioner Iraqi |work=[[Arab Times]] |date=1 March 2015}}</ref> According to his student card from the [[University of Westminster]], Emwazi was born on 17 August 1988.<ref name=skyadu />

[[Scotland Yard]] and [[10 Downing Street]] declined to comment on the reports.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11436596/Jihadi-John-named-as-Mohammed-Emwazi-from-west-London.html |title=Jihadi John named as Mohammed Emwazi, from west London |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=26 February 2015}}</ref> The [[Counter Terrorism Command]] of the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] released a statement saying: "We are not going to confirm the identity of anyone at this stage or give an update on the progress of this live counter-terrorism investigation."<ref>[https://twitter.com/juliamacfarlane/status/570906099739729920 Julia Macfarlane Twitter Statement from #SO15" "Met Press Office on BBC's naming of #JihadiJohn #ISIS militant as Mohammed Emwazi from London"]. Retrieved 26 February 2015.</ref> The security services in the US and UK are believed to have known the identity of 'Jihadi John' since September 2014, but have not revealed the name for [[operational security]] reasons.<ref name="IdentifiedBBC"/>

In an interview with ''The Washington Post'', one of Emwazi's close friends said: "I have no doubt that Mohammed is Jihadi John. He was like a brother to me. ... I am sure it is him." Asim Qureshi, research director at the advocacy group [[Cageprisoners|CAGE]], who had been in contact with Emwazi before he left for Syria, also identified the man in the videos as Emwazi, stating: "There was an extremely strong resemblance. This is making me feel fairly certain that this is the same person." US officials declined to comment for the ''Washington Post'' report, and Emwazi's family declined a request for an interview.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo"/> Qureshi said that Emwazi was "extremely kind, gentle and soft-spoken, the most humble young person I knew".<ref name="IdentifiedBBC" />

The BBC stated that Emwazi is believed to be "an associate of a former UK [[control order]] suspect ... who travelled to [[Somalia]] in 2006 and is allegedly linked to a facilitation and funding network for Somali militant group [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|al-Shabab]]."<ref name=IdentifiedBBC /> He reportedly prayed on occasion at a mosque in [[Greenwich]].<ref name=IdentifiedWaPo /> He graduated with a degree in Information Systems with Business Management from the [[University of Westminster]] (2009).<ref name=skykin /> His final address in the UK before he went abroad was in the [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]] area of north-west London.<ref name=bbcpro />

The ''Post'' reported interviews with Emwazi's friends indicating that Emwazi was [[Radicalization|radicalised]] after a planned [[safari]] to [[Tanzania]] following his graduation. According to the interviews, Emwazi and two friends, a German convert to Islam named Omar and another man, Abu Talib, never made the safari. Rather, upon landing in [[Dar es Salaam]] in May 2009, the three were detained, held overnight by police, and eventually [[Deportation|deported]]. In May 2010, ''[[The Independent]]'' reported on the episode, identifying Emwazi as '''Muhammad ibn Muazzam'''. According to e-mails sent by Emwazi to Qureshi and that were provided to the ''Post'', after leaving Tanzania, Emwazi flew to [[Amsterdam]], where he claimed that an MI5 officer accused him of attempting to go to Somalia, where al-Shabab operates. Emwazi denied attempting to reach Somalia, but a former hostage told the ''Post'' that "Jihadi John was obsessed with Somalia" and forced captives to watch videos about al-Shabab.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo"/> Tanzanian officials have denied that they detained and deported Emwazi at the request of MI5, saying instead that he had been refused entry for being drunk and abusive.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31785820 |title=Mohammed Emwazi: Tanzanian officer recalls airport arrest |publisher=BBC News |date=8 March 2015}}</ref>

Later, Emwazi and his friends were permitted to return to Britain, where Emwazi met with Qureshi in late 2009. The ''Post'' quoted Qureshi as saying that Emwazi was "incensed" at the way he had been treated. Emwazi moved to Kuwait shortly afterward, where (according to emails he wrote to Qureshi), he worked for a computer company. Emwazi returned to London twice, however, and, on the second visit, he made plans to wed a woman in Kuwait.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo"/>

In June 2010, Emwazi was detained by counter-terrorism officials in Britain, who searched and fingerprinted him, and blocked him from returning to Kuwait. In an email four months later to Qureshi, Emwazi expressed sympathy for [[Aafia Siddiqui]], an [[al-Qaeda]] operative who had just been sentenced in US federal court for assault and attempted murder. Qureshi said he last heard from Emwazi when Emwazi sought advice from him in January 2012. Close friends of Emwazi interviewed by the ''Post'' said that he was "desperate to leave the country" and one friend stated that Emwazi unsuccessfully tried to travel to [[Saudi Arabia]] to teach English in 2012. Sometime after January 2012, Emwazi travelled to Syria, where he apparently contacted his family and at least one of his friends.<ref name="IdentifiedWaPo"/>

In March 2015, the media reported that his mother had recognised Jihadi John's voice as her son's;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31700907 |title=Mother recognised Mohammed Emwazi's voice on hostage videos |publisher=BBC News |date=2 March 2015}}</ref> meanwhile, his father denied that this had happened or that Emwazi was Jihadi John.<ref name=guapro>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/04/mohammed-emwazi-father-proof-son-isis-executioner |title=Mohammed Emwazi's father: no proof my son is Isis executioner |work=The Guardian |date=4 March 2015}}</ref>

<!-- see section below "Reactions" for his reported death -->

==Reactions==

US President [[Barack Obama]] condemned the actions of 'Jihadi John' and vowed punishment for all the militants responsible for the videotaped beheadings.<ref name=Obama>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/04/world/middleeast/steven-sotloff-isis-execution.html|title=After Beheading of Steven Sotloff, Obama Pledges to Punish ISIS |work=The New York Times |date=3 September 2014}}</ref> Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] also called 'Jihadi John' a "coward behind a mask" and, echoing Obama, stated that all those responsible would be held accountable by the United States.<ref name=Obama/> British officials have also reiterated their commitment to capturing 'Jihadi John'. [[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead|Admiral Alan West]], a former UK [[Minister for Security|Minister for Security and Counter-terrorism]], said that he is a "dead man walking" who will be "hunted down" [[Death of Osama bin Laden|like Osama bin Laden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11073733/Jihadi-John-is-dead-man-walking-says-former-security-minister.html|title=Jihadi John is 'dead man walking', says former security minister – Telegraph|date=3 September 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=11 September 2014}}</ref> Prime Minister David Cameron also stated that he was absolutely certain that Jihadi John would "one way or another, face justice", and he also condemned the actions of 'Jihadi John'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11074342/David-Cameron-absolutely-certain-Jihadi-John-will-be-caught.html|title=David Cameron 'absolutely certain Jihadi John will be caught' – Telegraph|date=4 September 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=11 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/04/alan-henning-hostage-killing-harsh-price-isis-syria|title=Alan Henning murder: David Cameron vows to defeat ISIS|date=4 October 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref> UK [[Secretary of State for Justice|Justice Secretary]] [[Chris Grayling]], and Secretary General of [[Interpol]] [[Ronald Noble]] also stated that Jihadi John should be brought to justice.<ref name=Possible>{{cite news|first1=Tom|last1=Whitehead|title=Jihadi John known to MI5 but may never be brought to justice|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11097837/Jihadi-John-known-to-MI5-but-may-never-be-brought-to-justice.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=19 September 2014|date=16 September 2014}}</ref>

Reacting to the naming of Emwazi by the media, a spokesman for the family of [[Steven Sotloff]] told the BBC that they wanted to see him behind bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31646971|title=Sotloff family want 'Jihadi John' jailed|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref> Bethany Haines, daughter of David, said "It's a good step but I think all the families will feel closure and relief once there's a bullet between his eyes."<ref>{{cite news|title=Mohammed Emwazi: We won’t get closure until there's a bullet between his eyes, says widow of aid worker David Haines|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/david-haines-daughter-we-wont-get-closure-until-bullet-between-jihadi-johns-eyes-10073559.html|accessdate=1 March 2015|work=London Evening Standard|date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

[[Alex Carlile, Baron Carlile of Berriew|Lord Carlile]], a former independent reviewer of UK anti-terror laws, said, "Had [[control orders]] been in place, in my view there is a realistic prospect that Mohammed Emwazi, and at least two of his associates, would have been the subject of control orders with a compulsory relocation."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/01/jihadi-john-isis-emails_n_6777826.html |title=Jihadi John, UK ISIS Murderer, 'Emailed Mail on Sunday Journalist About Security Services' |work=The Huffington Post |date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

In reaction to the revelation, Emwazi's father, Jassem, has said that he is ashamed of his son. Previously, when he learned from his son that he was going to Syria "for [[jihad]]", Jassem had told him that he hoped he would be killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11446598/Jihadi-John-Father-accuses-Mohammed-Emwazi-of-being-a-dog-and-terrorist.html |title=Jihadi John: Father accuses Mohammed Emwazi of being a 'dog' and 'terrorist' |work=The Telegraph |date=3 March 2015}}</ref> But the day after the naming he issued a statement denying that his son was Jihadi John.<ref name=guapro /> An unidentified cousin issued a statement which said, "We hate him. We hope he will be killed soon. This will be good news for our family."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/213687/reftab/36/t/Security-probes-links-to-Emwazi/Default.aspx |title=Security probes links to Emwazi |work=Arab Times |date=3 March 2015}}</ref>

On 8 March 2015, according to ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', Emwazi apologised to his family for "problems and trouble the revelation of his identity has caused" them. The message was conveyed via an unspecified third party.<ref>nypost.com [http://nypost.com/2015/03/07/jihadi-john-apologizes-to-his-family/ "‘Jihadi John’ apologizes to his family", Post Wire Service] 2015年03月07日</ref>

==Death==

On 12 November 2015, two United States [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone aircraft]]<ref name="Fox News">{{cite web|title=U.S. Airstrike Targets Notorious ISIS Militant 'Jihadi John'|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/13/us-airstrike-targets-notorious-isis-militant-jihadi-john/?intcmp=hpbt1|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> along with a British drone reportedly conducted an airstrike in Al-Raqqah that targeted Emwazi as he left a building and entered a vehicle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34805924|title=Jihadi John: US air strike 'targets Mohammed Emwazi in Syria'|publisher=BBC News|date=13 November 2015|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> US officials stated he had been killed, but his death has not been confirmed and data was still being analysed.<ref name=ross>{{cite news |title='Jihadi John' Believed Killed in US Drone Strike, US Officials Say |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/jihadi-john-believed-killed-us-drone-strike/story?id=35170345 |author=Brian Ross |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=12 November 2015 |accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="guardian1115"/> <ref>http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/628831/strikes-target-isil-executioner-other-terrorists-in-syria-iraq</ref> A senior US military official was quoted as saying, "we are 99% sure we got him."<ref name="Fox News" /> A US official called it a "flawless" and "clean hit" with no collateral damage and that Emwazi was "evaporated."<ref name=ross/>

UK Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] stated the US and Britain had been working "hand in glove, round the clock" to track Emwazi's location, and that the drone strike was "an act of self-defence."<ref name="guardian1115"/><ref name=Chan>{{cite news|last1=Chan|first1=Sewell|last2=De Freytas-Tamura|first2=Kimiko|title=Pentagon Says 'Jihadi John' Was Probably Killed in Airstrike|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/world/europe/jihadi-john-mohammed-emwazi-david-cameron-statement.html?_r=0|accessdate=14 November 2015|agency=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=13 November 2015}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Beheading in Islamism]]

{{Portal bar|Biography|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Middle East|Terrorism}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}

{{Persondata

|NAME = Jihadi John

|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Mohammed Emwazi

|SHORT DESCRIPTION = British ISIS member

|DATE OF BIRTH = 17 August 1988

|PLACE OF BIRTH = Al Jahra, Kuwait

|DATE OF DEATH =

|PLACE OF DEATH =

}}

[[Category:1988 births]]

[[Category:2015 deaths]]

[[Category:21st-century English criminals]]

[[Category:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant members]]

[[Category:Iraqi emigrants to the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Iraqi expatriates in Kuwait]]

[[Category:Killing of captives by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]

[[Category:British Islamists]]

[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Alumni of the University of Westminster]]

[[Category:People educated at Quintin Kynaston School]]

[[Category:Criminals from London]]

[[Category:British executioners]]

[[Category:Possibly living people]]