Print | Send to friend | Email update

Latest beheading video a US hoax

Aug 8, 2004 10:43 AM

The latest video showing the beheading of an American hostage by militants in Iraq has been exposed as a hoax set up by US man.

The video, which appeared on a web site used by Islamic militants, showed a man who identified himself as Benjamin Vanderford appealing to the United States to leave Iraq.

The web format was that used by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was introduced by a headline that said it showed Zarqawi killing an American.
 
"If we don't (leave Iraq), everyone is gonna be killed in this way... I have been offered for exchange for prisoners here in Iraq," the terrified-looking man said, rocking back and forth in his chair, his hands tied behind his back.

The video showed a hand with a large knife apparently slicing through the neck of a limp body.

But it was all a hoax.

The blood was dye, the setting was a friend's garage, the Koran reading was a tape and the knife was held by a friend.

A major motivation for his action, an unrepentant Vanderford said, was to see how the world media would react and to see if they would be fooled.

"It really illustrates the potential that this kind of thing would happen," he said.

Vanderford, 22, said he worked at branch of Wells Fargo bank. A college drop-out, he was a candidate for the local city council earlier this year but had since dropped out of the race. 

Local police and FBI officials arrived at his door early on Saturday, but had no immediate comment as to whether he would face criminal charges.

A police official said it was a matter for the city's special investigations unit.

Vanderford expressed the hope that his stunt would not affect his bank job.

Headlines