– ‘Despicable act’ –
The fighter condemned recent US air strikes on the area around the Mosul Dam in Iraq, dating the footage after the 40-year-old Foley’s killing.
“So just as your missiles continue to strike the necks of our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people,” he declared, before reaching round to cut his captive’s throat.
Sotloff’s hair and beard were longer than in previous IS footage, in which he was threatened with death in retaliation for US strikes against the Sunni extremist group, which has declared an Islamic “caliphate” in regions under its control in Iraq and Syria.
In a warning to Britain, the killer declared: “We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”
The Sotloff family, who live in Miami, issued a statement through a spokesman, Barak Barfi, that implicitly confirmed the video as authentic.
“The family knows of this horrific tragedy and is grieving privately. There will be no public comment from the family during this difficult time,” it said.
After Foley’s death, Sotloff’s mother Shirley had addressed a video message to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi pleading for her son’s life, and insisting he had no influence on US policy.
A US spokeswoman said Washington was trying to authenticate the “sickening” footage, and British Prime Minister David Cameron said it depicted an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act.”
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