Sacked, the six HSBC workers who filmed mock jihadi-style beheading
SIX HSBC bank workers have been sacked after making an ‘abhorrent’ video in which they pretended to behead an Asian colleague in a mock Islamic State execution.
The video posted online shows a bearded banker, named as Saf Ahmed, kneeling in an orange jumpsuit as five balaclava-clad workmates stand behind him.
One of the masked men – wearing an orange balaclava – raises a coathanger as a pretend knife while another shouts Allahu Akbar – Arabic for ‘God is great’ – amid laughs.
The incident was filmed at an indoor go-karting centre during a team-building exercise for staff from one of the bank’s Birmingham bases. The employees are reportedly members of its legal division.
Yesterday HSBC said it decided to sack the individuals as soon as it became aware of the video.
The seven- second clip was recorded within the last few weeks at the Teamworks Karting venue in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The five ‘executioners’ are wearing dark race suits as they stand behind Mr Ahmed, chanting and yelling. One holds the shoulders of their ‘victim’.
The footage evokes the brutal and sickening IS videos of the beheadings of hostages carried out by the executioner known as ‘Jihadi John’, who has a London-accent.
Hostages including Britons Alan Henning and David Haines were both filmed in IS videos wearing orange jumpsuits before they were murdered in Syria last year.
The bank’s decision to sack the six employees was broadly welcomed on social media yesterday. Keith Robinson said of the six on
‘This is abhorrent’
Twitter: ‘ Bloody idiots, did they really think this was funny!’
Barry Harding added: ‘Sick, just very very sick. They deserve everything they get.’
Ben Rose tweeted: ‘ That HSBC mock ISIS beheading. Supposed educated individuals. Bunch of absolute morons more like.’
A spokesman for Teamworks Karting said HSBC was a ‘ major customer who frequently have clients and staff driving with us’.
He described the employees’ conduct as ‘disgraceful’ and added: ‘We have staff of all colours and creeds working for us and they are all shocked by what these individuals have done.’
In a statement, the firm added: ‘The abhorrent video was filmed without our knowledge, during a private party booked by one of our corporate clients and we would not wish this to reflect negatively on Teamworks.
‘We have lodged a complaint with HSBC and understand that the individuals involved have since been sacked.’
HSBC said: ‘We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour. As soon as The Sun brought this video to our attention we took the decision to sack the individuals involved. This is an abhorrent video and HSBC would like to apologise for any offence caused.’
The bank, which earlier this year announced plans to move its retail and banking business operations to Birmingham from London, declined to comment on exactly where the six men were employed.
HSBC has 48,000 staff in Britain and 16million customers. It bought Midland Bank, a lender with its origins in Birmingham, in 1992.