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US sources claim 'Jihadi John' dead after drone strike

The Pentagon has said it is not clear he was killed but defence sources say they’re 99% sure.

US DEFENCE SOURCES have said they are “99% sure” a drone strike has killed British Islamic State militant Jihadi John.

The militant, whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi, has featured in a number of videos in which Western hostages were beheaded. These included US journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley, aid workers Adbul-Rahman Kassig, David Haines and Alan Henning and Japanese tourist Kenji Goto.

Though Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said it was not clear whether Emwazi had been killed in the strike, a senior defence official told Fox News: “We are 99% sure we got him. We were on him for some time.”

A source also told ABC News that the operation had been “flawless” and a “clean hit”.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said officials are not certain whether the strike killed Emwazi.

He said the strike had been a joint effort and that British intelligence agencies were working around the clock to find the British-accented militant, whom he called the militant group”s “lead executioner.”

Cameron also said the US strike had been “an act of self-defence” and the right thing to do. He said targeting Emwazi was “a strike at the heart” of the Islamic State group.

Following news of the strike, the mother of victim Steven Sotloff told NBC news that even if the militant had been killed “it doesn’t bring my son back”.

Who knows if he’s gone. I don’t think there will ever be closure.

“Sadistic and merciless”

Jihadi John” was six years old when his family moved to London. He grew up in North Kensington, a middle-class area where a network of Islamist extremists was uncovered in recent years.

As a child, he was a fan of Manchester United football club and the band S Club 7, according to a 1996 school year book published by The Sun. He later went on to study information technology at the University of Westminster.

Court papers published by British media connected Emwazi to a network of extremists known as “The London Boys” that were originally trained by al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda’s East Africa affiliate.

One hostage who fell under Emwazi’s control in the IS group’s hub in Raqa talked of a “cold, sadistic and merciless” killer.

- With reporting from AFP and Associated Press. 

Read: ‘Feel it? Cold, isn’t it?’ – Jihadi John caressed hostage’s neck with knife blade>

Read: Mother of ‘Jihadi John’ says she recognised son’s voice in hostage videos>

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:41 AM

    If you are going to make a mistake MAKE A BIG ONE

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    Mute neeneee
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:56 AM

    Dislike tesco,their products and staff

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Oct 1st 2014, 9:12 AM

    It was much more than a mistake though. They made a deliberate decision to book revenue from suppliers at a particular stage. Even if that didn’t break the rules, it’s the sort of aggressive policy that rarely ends well.

    And the bigger story is that more than a fifth (possibly even more) of Tesco’s profit comes from payments from *suppliers*. That is only sustainable while you dominate the consumer end. Real trouble ahead.

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    Mute Linda Hughes
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:24 PM

    Me to the staff are rude, unhelpful, surly and they do not smile, continue doing what they are doing when a que is building up and then have an attitude when they have to serve you. I stopped shopping in Tesco a long time ago and would never go back

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    Mute Deirdre Mallin
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:44 AM

    Aldi people know now every lidl helps!

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    Mute Darren Mullen
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:09 AM

    They should be under the microscope for the outrageous prices they charge.

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    Mute Jill Antrop
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    Oct 1st 2014, 9:16 AM

    One of their butchers must have been doing the accounts so

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    Mute Andy
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:57 AM

    Tesco is sh*t. Their meat is crap, I won’t say the staff are rude, I just don’t think they care. Their prices are absolute nonsense, 30 quid gets you a barely half full bag of shopping – ridiculous!

    If you’re not a major fan of lidl or aldi, and sick of Tesco using your hard earned golds to fill their accounting holes then Dunnes is your man!

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    Mute Grainne Gavin
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:08 AM

    In fairness Tesco prices are very high, and people just cant afford to shop there anymore, i only go to Tesco for washing powder, and if they have a deal on something other than that wouldn’t go near the place.

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    Mute Jim
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:46 AM

    You can get everything you want under the tree at Spar

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    Mute Sheik Yerbouti
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:55 AM

    The person who stands up and says, “This is stupid,” either is asked to `behave’ or, worse,
    is greeted with a cheerful “Yes, we know! Isn’t it terrific!” FZ

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