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Second Frenchman identified in brutal IS video
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A SECOND Frenchman was identified yesterday after appearing unmasked in a grisly execution video among Islamic State jihadists, many of whom are believed to be Western fighters.
Several European countries are probing the possible involvement of their nationals in the execution of 18 Syrian prisoners and kidnapped US aid worker Peter Kassig.
The video sparked global horror after its release on Sunday by the IS Sunni Muslim extremist group that has carried out widespread atrocities since seizing control of large parts of Iraq and Syria.
One foreigner, 22-year-old Maxime Hauchard from Normandy in northern France, was quickly identified by French prosecutors. He is one of several young French nationals from a middle class, atheist or Catholic background to have converted to radical Islam and gone to fight in Syria, making a profile of potential jihadists nearly impossible to pin down.
A source close to the French investigation yesterday identified a second national as 22-year-old Mickael Dos Santos from an eastern Paris suburb, who goes by the name of Abu Othman. He is believed to have left for Syria in the autumn of 2013, and became known to investigators shortly afterwards during a probe into a network channelling jihadists into the war-torn country.
“The man concerned is known for his terrorist involvement in Syria and his violent behavior shown on social networks,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said.
In July, Hauchard said in an interview with French television he had decided to join IS after watching videos online.
“The personal objective of everyone here is (to become a) shahid (martyr). That is the greatest reward,” he said.
A British-accented militant nicknamed “Jihadi John” has been at the center of previous IS beheading videos and appeared again in Sunday’s recording claiming Kassig’s killing.
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