Disgusting and sickening...the IS terror videos that thousands see on Facebook
FACEBOOK is still broadcasting sickening terror videos of jihadists torturing and executing prisoners, a Daily Express investigation reveals today.
The material is at risk of radicalising young men and women in the UK and could inspire fresh terror attacks.
The internet giant was failing to prevent the spread of hate-filled propaganda, a counter extremism group said.
Yesterday the Daily Express was able to access a catalogue of sickening videos showing beheadings, shootings and bombings carried out by jihadist executioners.
Some had been online for months and viewed thousands of times. Others had been uploaded in the past fortnight but all were available to be shared publicly despite a supposed crackdown on radical extremism.
Threat
It included the notorious video of British-educated Mohammed Emwazi, also known as “Jihadi John”. He is seen triumphantly clutching the severed head of American aid worker Peter Kassig. The vile video had been watched 111 times.
Former Tory minister Mark Simmonds, senior adviser to the Counter Extremism Project, a notfor-profit organisation formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideologies online, said: “These videos portray disgusting violence and executions.
“They explicitly glorify IS, brainwash its followers and seek to groom new recruits, yet they have been watched and shared for weeks and months without action being taken.
“They are helping to promote Islamic State, and potentially radicalise future terrorists, and that is inexcusable when technology already exists to stop this happening. It is astounding Facebook is helping to spread such dangerous extremist IS content for months on end. “Facebook claim to be clamping down on violent extremist material, but our research proves they simply are not doing enough.” An investigation suggests Facebook was being used to distribute disturbing and banned content in a bid to connect and mobilise like-minded killers around the world.
The most distressing video was made by Indonesian group KDI Media and includes extensive footage from, “Although the disbelievers dislike it”, first released in 2014, which shows a line of hostages being decapitated by their captors. Incredibly, the video was recognised as violent by Facebook and even contains a message saying “this video may show violent or graphic content”. But viewers have been free to see, like and share its X-rated content for four months.
Tim Loughton, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “These latest videos showing the barbarism of Daesh (Islamic State) at its most inhuman and evil have been available for all to see. Goodness knows what influence, damage or a call to arms they have provoked.”
The catalogue of extremist propaganda came as the two surviving “Beatles” jihadists beg not to be extradited to the US where they
would face execution. Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, from west London, were captured in Syria in January. The other British member Aine Davis is in prison in Turkey.
A one-minute clip taken from the IS video “The Vanguards Of Redemption” from the group’s self-proclaimed Furat province in the Iraq-Syria border area shows IS fighters storming an Iraqi security forces outpost and shooting Iraqi soldiers. It has been seen 4,000 times, attracted 94 likes and been shared by 163 people.
Another sickening clip viewed 2,700 times shows an IS fighter cutting off a hand in front of a baying mob. It has been liked 50 times and been shared by 49 people. Other distressing footage includes a two-minute clip by Indonesian group Generation 5.54 featuring a collage of still images including firearm executions of prisoners in orange jumpsuits by children. It was uploaded three weeks ago and watched 22 times.
The revelations come after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg promised his organisation would take radical steps to address widespread concern about hate speech, extremist content and fake news on Facebook. The company now boasts more than 2.2 billion monthly active users. Fears that it is used as a platform to spread extremist content has seen it employ 10,000 people whose job is to work on safety and security.