20 Apr 2015

IS video purports to show killings

6:29 am on 20 April 2015

A video released by Islamic State purports to show the execution of two groups of Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

An image from a video purportedly showing the execution of Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

An image from a video purportedly showing the execution of Ethiopian Christians in Libya. Photo: AFP / HO / Al-Furqan Medii

Between 20 and 30 people appear to be murdered in the footage.

It purports to show one group in desert terrain being shot by masked militants with machine-guns, and the other group being beheaded on a beach.

The authenticity of the video has not been verified, but the apparent killings are similar to past atrocities carried out by Islamic State.

The video bore the logo of the IS media arm and was similar to past footage released by the jihadists, including of 21 Coptic Christians beheaded on a Libyan beach in February.

The militants control large swathes of Iraq and Syria, but have also won the backing of jihadist groups across the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya.

- BBC / AFP