The White House on Wednesday condemned the reported beheading of a French tourist captured by a terrorist group in North Africa.
“Clearly, if true, this would be another horrific action that is an affront to all of humanity,” a senior administration official said. “The United States would obviously stand in full solidarity with our French allies.
“But really our thoughts and prayers would be with the family,” the senior administration official added. “I’d note that this was a group that claims affinity for [the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] not necessary a group that is under direct control or direction from [the Islamic State].”
Video circulated Wednesday appearing to show the beheading of Hervé Gourdel, a 55-year-old Frenchman, in Algeria. The terrorist group Jund al-Khilafah claimed responsibility for the killing, saying it was following the lead of the Islamic State, which has conducted similar executions in recent weeks.
In the video, the terrorist group called for the French government to halt its military involvement in Syria.
Obama earlier Wednesday spoke of his plans to eliminate the Islamic State, urging the broader Muslim community to reject the actions of terrorists executing innocent civilians.
“You come from a great tradition that stands for education, not ignorance; innovation, not destruction; the dignity of life, not murder,” the president said at the United Nations General Assembly. “Those who call you away from this path are betraying this tradition, not defending it.”
