The contrast between this video and earlier Islamic State propaganda could hardly be greater. Until John Cantlie’s appearance yesterday, the IS videos had shown a series of horrific beheadings. These included the last moments of UK aid worker David Haines and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. Each video ended with a chilling picture of the next hostage facing death. The victims were wearing orange jumpsuits, kneeling in the sand, with blue sky behind them. The knife-wielding figure of the British fanatic known as Jihadi John was seen next to them as he ranted about Barack Obama and David Cameron.
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Recent Islamic State videos had shown a series of horrific beheadings
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Victims were in the desert with British fanatic Jihadi John next to them
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Video of John Cantlie had no knives, no threats and no beheadings
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The contrasting style was almost like a parody of a US TV chat show
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But the video, released yesterday, contained a warning to chill the blood
Cantlie’s voice remains clear and a constant tone as he unveils the video is the first of several planned by @placeholder.