A former member of the Islamic State group said Tuesday that hostages are lulled into a false sense of security before being executed.
“We don’t have any problem with you. You are only our visitors,” a former translator for the terror group told Sky News hostages are told before doing numerous mock executions.
“Saleh” told Sky News that before Japanese journalist Kenji Goto was slain in late January, the Sunni radical terror group had given him that Arabic name “Abu Saad.” The translator said that giving hostages Arabic names made them feel relaxed.
“Maybe they could not say Kenji Goto so they say Abu Saad. But when I noticed Goto, when they said Abu Saad to Goto direct, he relax,” Saleh told the news outlet.
The translator added that Mohammed Emwazi, known as “Jihad John” on the battlefield, is the “big boss” when it comes to executions. Saleh said the 26-year-old Briton was respected among the other terrorists, but he wasn’t sure what factor was most responsible for the elevated status.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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