The Kuwaiti-born Islamic State militant dubbed ‘Jihadi John’ has been targeted in a US air strike in Syria, with security forces reporting a “high degree of certainty” he was hit.
Mohammed Emwazi appeared in videos of the beheadings of Western hostages, including Eccles taxi driver turned volunteer air worker Alan Henning.
Mr Henning, 47, was kidnapped by Islamic State while on his fourth aid mission to Syria on Boxing Day 2013.
He was held in captivity for over nine months before he was publicly and brutally beheaded.
Alan Henning anniversary: Eccles covered in yellow ribbons one year after ISIS murder
Alan Henning, known locally as Gadget, was named SalfordOnline.com’s first Salfordian of the Year for his dedication to help those less fortunate thousands of miles from home in war-torn Syria.
Alan’s daughter Lucy, 18, spoke out about her father’s killing earlier this week, saying she only found out he had died when she saw a picture on social media site Instagram.
American security forces told US news organisation CNN that Emwasi had been targeted in a US-led drone strike in Raqqa, Syria, with a senior US official telling the channel the authorities were confident that the attack killed the 27-year-old.
According to Fox News, the drone had been following Emwasi for most of the day on Thursday and hit when he left a building in a vehicle.
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook announced the strike in a statement.
“We are assessing the results of tonight’s operation and will provide additional information as and where appropriate,” Cook said.
Number 10 Downing Street said this morning that they had worked “hand in glove with the Americans” in the operation.
Emwasi became notorious around the world for appearing in videos showing sadistic torture techniques and live killings, which were shared on social media.
He first appeared in a video in August last year, when footage was posted online showing the murder of US journalist James Foley.
He was later pictured in the videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, Yorkshire aid worker David Haines, American aid worker Abdul Rahman Kassig and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.
Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make a statement later today, Friday 13 November.
