The latest issue of an English-language ISIS magazine calls the British intelligence agency MI-5 “much-overrated,” applauds the San Bernardino mass murder, and offers a profile of the deceased executioner known as “Jihadi John.”
The terror attack in San Bernardino is praised at the beginning of this issue of Dabiq, but there are no new details about the attack and connections to ISIS.
In reference to San Bernardino suspects Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, who were killed in a shootout with police, the magazine says "not only did they leave behind their comfortable lifestyle, but prior to the operation they left their baby daughter in the care of others knowing that they likely wouldn’t see her again in this life.”
The attacks in Paris are also referenced with pictures of the killers superimposed on images from the crime scenes.
A section of the issue is devoted to Mohamed Emwazi, also known as Abu Muharib Al-Muhajir or "Jihadi John,” the Kuwait-born British citizen who became notorious after appearing in ISIS beheading and propaganda videos.
The magazine says he was interrogated by British intelligence before he left for the Middle East:
"One particular agent said to him, 'You’re not going anywhere. We are going to be on you like a shadow.' The joke would eventually be on him...
"Right under the nose of the much-overrated MI5 British intelligence agency, Abu Muharib together with his companion in hijrah carefully and secretly made their departure, utilizing every means available to them."
The magazine said Al-Muhajir's journey to join ISIS “totaled approximately two months and involved trekking the mountain ranges of Europe and its marshy farmlands, sneaking across borders, and being detained by the authorities of various nations on at least two occasions.”
The magazine says that when he received "a sabiyyah (concubine) as a gift he did not hesitate to give her away — likewise as a gift — to an unmarried injured brother.”
ISIS says “Jihadi John” was in a car in Raqqa, Syria, when he was killed in a U.S. drone strike in November.
In another section of the magazine, ISIS’ governor in Afghanistan says al Qaeda is finished in Afghanistan and its remnants operate "under the authority of Pakistani intelligence."
"Apart from the presence of only a few of its members ... al Qaeda has collapsed in a very big way here in its center," the magazine says.
This 56-page issue of Dabiq is the 13th installment of the magazine.
