DHAKA: British foreign secretary Philip Hammond on Wednesday voiced his ‘absolute horror’ at the apparent beheading of US journalist James Foley, which he said showed the ‘brutality’ of Islamic State jihadists.

Hammond said the executioner in the beheading video appeared to be British and work was under way to verify his background.

He also said European extremists fighting with IS posed a security threat if they attempted to return home.

Hammond told BBC radio his reaction was ‘Horror, absolute horror at what appears to be a brutal execution’, reports Turkish daily Hurriyet.

‘It just is one more example in a catalogue of brutality by this organisation.’

He said IS ‘atrocities’ in Iraq and Syria were ‘completely horrifying and shocking’ and were driving the international community’s efforts to support Iraqis and Kurds in pushing back against the ‘evil organisation’.

The masked executioner in the video speaks English with a British accent.

BDST: 1714 HRS, AUG 20, 2014