Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Jordan, shaken by Islamic State killing, executes 2 inmates - U-T San Diego

By KARIN LAUB and OMAR AKOUR Associated Press11:41 p.m.


This still image made from video released by Islamic State group militants and posted on the website of the SITE Intelligence Group on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, purportedly shows Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh standing in a cage just before being burned to death by his captors. The death of the 26-year-old pilot, who fell into the hands of the militants in December when his Jordanian F-16 crashed near Raqqa, Syria, followed a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group)


photo Safi al-Kaseasbeh, right, father of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh receives condolences from tribal leaders at the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)The Associated Press



Safi al-Kaseasbeh, right, father of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh receives condolences from tribal leaders at the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)





photo Safi al-Kaseasbeh, center, father of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh is escorted by relatives while receiving condolences in front of the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)The Associated Press



Safi al-Kaseasbeh, center, father of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh is escorted by relatives while receiving condolences in front of the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)





photo Relatives of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh attend the mourning ceremony at the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)The Associated Press



Relatives of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh attend the mourning ceremony at the Kaseasbeh tribe's gathering divan at their home village of Ai, near Karak, Jordan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)





photo An ambulance transports the bodies of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, after their executions at Swaqa prison about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



An ambulance transports the bodies of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, after their executions at Swaqa prison about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Jordanian security stand guard outside Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Jordanian security stand guard outside Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Jordanian security forces leave Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Jordanian security forces leave Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Jordanian security forces leave Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Jordanian security forces leave Swaqa prison, after the executions of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo President Barack Obama, right, meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office of the White House, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Washington. The meeting comes after Jordanian Air Force pilot First Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh was executed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)The Associated Press



President Barack Obama, right, meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office of the White House, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Washington. The meeting comes after Jordanian Air Force pilot First Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh was executed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)





photo King Abdullah of Jordan , center, is hurried into a meeting with leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. It was announced today that a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State has been killed. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. Jordan threatened a harsh response to the killing of Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who fell into the hands of the militants in December when his F-16 crashed in Syria. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)The Associated Press



King Abdullah of Jordan , center, is hurried into a meeting with leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. It was announced today that a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State has been killed. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. Jordan threatened a harsh response to the killing of Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, 26, who fell into the hands of the militants in December when his F-16 crashed in Syria. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)





photo Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh gather at the tribal gathering chamber, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015.A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh gather at the tribal gathering chamber, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015.A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh express their anger of his reported killing, at the tribal gathering chamber, Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh express their anger of his reported killing, at the tribal gathering chamber, Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh gather at the tribal gathering chamber, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh gather at the tribal gathering chamber, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh express their anger of his reported killing, outside the tribal gathering chamber, Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Supporters and family members of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh express their anger of his reported killing, outside the tribal gathering chamber, Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, 3, 2015. A video released online Tuesday purportedly showed al-Kaseasbeh who was captured by the Islamic State extremist group in Syria being burned to death by his captors following a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange. At the tribal meeting place where the pilot's relatives have waited for weeks for word on his fate, chants against Jordan's King Abdullah II erupted and some family members wept. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo FILE - In this , Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 file photo, the sister, right, and wife, left, of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by the Islamic State group militants, cry as they ride a car during a protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan. An online video released Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 purportedly shows a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group being burned to death. The Associated Press was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity of the video, which was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group's al-Furqan media service. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh, File)The Associated Press



FILE - In this , Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 file photo, the sister, right, and wife, left, of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by the Islamic State group militants, cry as they ride a car during a protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan. An online video released Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 purportedly shows a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group being burned to death. The Associated Press was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity of the video, which was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group's al-Furqan media service. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh, File)





photo Anwar al-Tarawneh, the wife of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by Islamic State group militants, holds a poster of him as she weeps during a protest in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. Al-Kaseasbeh was seized after his F-16 jet crashed near the Islamic State group's de facto capital, Raqqa, Syria, in December last year. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)The Associated Press



Anwar al-Tarawneh, the wife of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by Islamic State group militants, holds a poster of him as she weeps during a protest in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. Al-Kaseasbeh was seized after his F-16 jet crashed near the Islamic State group's de facto capital, Raqqa, Syria, in December last year. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)





photo FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 file photo, a Jordanian child holds a poster with a picture of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by the Islamic State group militants, with Arabic that reads, "we are all Muath," during a candle vigil in support of Japan, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Amman, Jordan. An online video released Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 purportedly shows a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group being burned to death. The Associated Press was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity of the video, which was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group's al-Furqan media service. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)The Associated Press



FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 file photo, a Jordanian child holds a poster with a picture of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by the Islamic State group militants, with Arabic that reads, "we are all Muath," during a candle vigil in support of Japan, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Amman, Jordan. An online video released Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 purportedly shows a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State extremist group being burned to death. The Associated Press was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity of the video, which was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group's al-Furqan media service. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)





AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan executed two al-Qaida prisoners before dawn Wednesday, just hours after an online video purported to show Islamic State group militants burning a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage.


The gruesome death of 26-year-old Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, captured while participating in airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition targeting the militants, sparked outrage across the Middle East and anti-Islamic State protests in Jordan.


The pilot's father called on the government to avenge his son, and officials threatened a tough response, as King Abdullah II, a staunch Western ally, rushed back to his kingdom from Washington. Several thousand people received the monarch at Jordan's main airport in a show of support, holding up pictures of the king, the pilot and national flags.


In Raqaa, the Islamic State group's de facto capital, the militants gleefully played al-Kaseasbeh's slaying on big-screen televisions, Syrian activists there said.


In its first response, Jordan executed Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said. Another official said they were executed by hanging.


The executions took place at Swaqa prison about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordan's capital, Amman. At sunrise, two ambulances carrying the bodies of al-Rishawi and al-Karbouly drove away from the prison with security escorts. Authorities said they'd be buried later in Jordan.


Al-Rishawi had been sentenced to death after her 2005 role in a triple hotel bombing that killed 60 people in Amman orchestrated by al-Qaida in Iraq, the predecessor of the Islamic State group. Al-Karbouly was sent to death row in 2008 for plotting terror attacks on Jordanians in Iraq.


The militants purportedly had demanded Jordan release al-Rishawi in exchange for the pilot. Over the past week, Jordan had offered to trade her, but froze any swap after failing to receive any proof that the pilot was still alive.


The Jordanian military said, without elaborating, that the pilot was killed Jan. 3, suggesting officials knew any attempt to trade would be in vain.


Al-Kaseasbeh had fallen into the hands of the militants when his F-16 crashed near Raqqa. He was the first airman participating in the U.S.-led bombing raids against militant positions in Syria and Iraq to be captured.


In the 20-minute video purportedly showing his killing, he displayed signs of having been beaten, including a black eye. Toward the end of the clip, he is shown wearing an orange jumpsuit. He stands in an outdoor cage as a masked militant ignites a line of fuel leading to it.


The video, which threatened other purported Jordanian pilots by name, was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group's al-Furqan media service. The clip featured the slick production and graphics used in previous Islamic State group videos. The video could not immediately be confirmed independently by The Associated Press.


Jordan's military quickly confirmed al-Kaseasbeh had been killed. "Our punishment and revenge will be as huge as the loss of the Jordanians," army spokesman Mamdouh al-Ameri said.









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