White House: Video Showing Killing of U.S. Journalist ‘Authentic’

Washington (PNA/Xinhua) — The U.S. Intelligence Community has concluded that the video showing the killing of U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff is “authentic,” the White House said Wednesday.

Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson for White House’s National Security Council, said the U.S. has reached the judgment after analyzing the video, adding that the U.S. will continue to provide updates as they are available.

The video, which was released Tuesday, showed Sotloff being killed in a manner similar to the beheading of journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants, who was slain last month.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States will not be intimidated by Islamic militants following the beheading of Sotloff.

“We will not be intimidated. Their horrific acts only unite us as a country and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists,” Obama told a news conference in Estonia.

“Those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget, and that our reach is long and that justice will be served,” he added. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/JSD