LOC23:16
20:16 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (KUNA) -- The US is "sickened" if a latest video from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) showing beheading of an American is authentic, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday.
"We have seen reports of a video that purports to be the murder of US citizen Steven Sotloff by ISIL," Psaki said during a briefing. "The intelligence community will work as quickly as possible to determine its authenticity. If the video is genuine, we are sickened by this brutal act taking the life of another innocent American citizen.
"Our hearts go out to the Sotloff family, and we will provide more information as it becomes available," Psaki said.
The Internet video claimed to show the beheading of Sotloff, a kidnapped Time magazine journalist.
Titled "A second message to America," the video was released days after a plea from Sotloff's mother directly to the militants begged them to spare the life of her son.
Sotloff had been threatened while he was shown by ISIL militants at the end of a video released last month which was confirmed to have shown the beheading of freelance US photojournalist James Foley.
ISIL is also threatening to kill captured British citizens. (end)
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