RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – The al-Qaida group that kidnapped American Paul M. Johnson Jr. posted a statement on a Web site Friday saying it killed him, and displayed still photographs on the Internet of his beheaded body.
Separately, al-Arabiya television reported Friday that Johnson had been beheaded.
Reached by telephone, an official from Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya in Dubai told The Associated Press that the news of Johnson’s death had been reported by the network’s correspondent in the Saudi capital.
CNN reported that Al-Arabiya had a video of the killing, but the network official said there was no video.
The al Qaeda kidnappers had said the Saudi government had until Friday to free jailed militants or it would kill Johnson, a Lockheed Martin employee.
“As we promised the mujahideen we have beheaded the American hostage Paul Marshall after the deadline that the mujahideen gave to the tyrannical Saudi government passed,” a statement signed by the Organization of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said on the al Islah Web site.
The Web site showed pictures of what appeared to be Johnson’s severed head resting on his body.
As noted here earlier in the week Johnson’s fate was sealed from the beginning and he may have even been dead for days. The demands of the kidnappers were a ruse.
Drudge is running the pictures now. If you must see them click here to see the picture page.
Update: The man at the top of the suspect list, Abdulaziz al-Moqrin was killed by the Saudi’s Friday.
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) – The purported leader of al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia was killed in a raid in the capital Friday, Saudi security officials said. Abdulaziz al-Moqrin, 31, was killed by security forces who had surrounded militants in a downtown neighborhood shortly after the discovery of the body of an American killed earlier in the evening, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Al-Arabiya satellite station said two other militants, on Saudi Arabia’s list of most wanted men, were also killed in the raid, and another was injured and arrested.
Al-Moqrin, who trained with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, is at the top of the list of suspects in Saudi Arabia and is believed to be the leader of the group calling itself al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which claimed responsibility for Friday’s beheading of American hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr.
Al-Moqrin’s group has claimed responsibility for most attacks against Westerners in Saudi Arabia in the past two months.Our family’s prayers are with Mr. Johnson’s family.
Justice, quit living in the past. The blood of Christianity that you cite took place back in the dark ages. The Crusades were centuries ago. The things that you mention took place back when people thought that the world was flat and that the sun revolved around the earth! The world is a different place now and the masses are better educated and “should know better by now”.
The problem is that those murdering camel humpers in the middle east are still dwelling on ancient territorial issues. They take up the cause and the plight of the Palestinians…but I do not see one Arab nation offering to take those people into their country and offer them land so that they can call someplace their home. They are all a bunch of greasy ignorant pigs who have a personal lust for power. They hide behind causes and send ignorant young people off to kill themselves in the name of their god Allah. They are horny pigs so they dangle the promise of virgins in front of hormone ravaged kids so that the kids can murder on their behalf. Cowards. Fools.
I would cut off their dicks, shove them down their throats then cut off their heads and beat them with the bottom of my shoe. If there is anything more disrespectful that can be done then I would gladly do it. That is how lowly I regard the Islamic faith and it’s followers.
Justice, you must be a frustrated and unsuccesfull person because you call the American government ignorant. It is obvious that you have no personal success in your life and you are looking to others to blame your failures on. Sounds just like the losers who are committing the terrorist acts.
The “jheka” that posted above is a troll & my stalker. Again. The comments he posted are an edited version of what Iposted on my blog here.
Hi, Personally i’m tired of all the fighting and hatred. For one thing usin nucular weapons is stupid. Every single breathing thing would b killed. Then what? You would kill urself to kill everyone on earth. I personally respect all people. I treat them like i would like them to treat me. We are all made of the same stuff, blood, bones, hair, organs, skin. We just have different ethnic backrounds, religions, lauanges, and beliefs. We all need air to live. Why can’t we all just get along. Make some sort of treaty or agreement to stop all this nonsence. What are we provin with war? That we can fire a gun, take an innocent life? All we are showing is that are heartless killing people who can’t get along like mature adults. Killing people won’t make things better, or fix them. I’m scared to death of bein killed by some big nucular warhead. Usin one of thoes will kill ur people and u and us. What is the point in that? CAN’T WE JUST ALL GROW THE FRICK UP AND GET ALONG LIKE MATURE ADULTS!?
Hi, Personally i’m tired of all the fighting and hatred. For one thing usin nucular weapons is stupid. Every single breathing thing would b killed. Then what? You would kill urself to kill everyone on earth. I personally respect all people. I treat them like i would like them to treat me. We are all made of the same stuff, blood, bones, hair, organs, skin. We just have different ethnic backrounds, religions, lauanges, and beliefs. We all need air to live. Why can’t we all just get along. Make some sort of treaty or agreement to stop all this nonsence. What are we provin with war? That we can fire a gun, take an innocent life? All we are showing is that are heartless killing people who can’t get along like mature adults. Killing people won’t make things better, or fix them. I’m scared to death of bein killed by some big nucular warhead. Usin one of thoes will kill ur people and u and us. What is the point in that? CAN’T WE JUST ALL GROW THE FRICK UP AND GET ALONG LIKE MATURE ADULTS!?
I am NOT a person who believes in murder of ANYONE, however, under these particular circumstances, I say it’s a damned SHAME we can’t just bomb the HELL out of them ALL, men, women and children alike, so they can NO LONGER REPRODUCE!!! Hey, no more of THEM, and no more malicious, barbaric, sensless murders, right?– (hmph, only in a PERFECT world, I suppose…) Paul Johnson’s story hits very close to home for me, and makes my heart weep— I am in A&P school, learning to be an aviation mechanic… my dream is to be government contracted, to work on F-18 fighter jets, (since I was 16– I’m now “30 something”…) My heart goes out to Mr. Johnson’s family and friends… as WELL, to Nick Burg’s– this has gotten very old, VERY quickly and these barbarians have GOT TO BE STOPPED, some how, some way, NOW!!! God Bless Paul Johnson, God Bless Nick Burg, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!…
I am NOT a person who believes in murder of ANYONE, however, under these particular circumstances, I say it’s a damned SHAME we can’t just bomb the HELL out of them ALL, men, women and children alike, so they can NO LONGER REPRODUCE!!! Hey, no more of THEM, and no more malicious, barbaric, sensless murders, right?– (hmph, only in a PERFECT world, I suppose…) Paul Johnson’s story hits very close to home for me, and makes my heart weep— I am in A&P school, learning to be an aviation mechanic… my dream is to be government contracted, to work on F-18 fighter jets, (since I was 16– I’m now “30 something”…) My heart goes out to Mr. Johnson’s family and friends… as WELL, to Nick Burg’s– this has gotten very old, VERY quickly and these barbarians have GOT TO BE STOPPED, some how, some way, NOW!!! God Bless Paul Johnson, God Bless Nick Burg, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!…
Well…..before at hand accusing the Muslim..I’m also a devout Christian..still feel that we shouldn’t forget what we have done to the Muslims in Abu Gharib prison…ermmmm….how about those weak Palestinians tortured and brutally killed by Israel and supported by U.S. all these while…Get to think about it…To stop a fire, not by pouring more oil but how to find a pail or more pails of water. Americans have to admit mistakes for interfering other countries political agenda. What gives the rite to U.S. and Britons to intervene? Russian does not give a damn bout it…Plsss…American should think they will not be forever the superpower in military and economics. Recent studies indicates that China and Russia may be taking the lead in giantising their roles as the super powers. Last but not least, help America by sending Bush out from power. Keep our own business in our territory. Lots more can be done to upgrade our social disagreement among our people.There are still poor people in our country. Bush, don’t take more risks okay…Cool down and admit our mistakes….and don’t ever take advice from any Israel or Jewish proxies in the government.We should stand as American as an entity..no more divided by race, religion and sex…Show to the world that we can lead a civilized world by making us as example of peace nation to other people.Sell the idea and not to sell the weapon.
I see that you all complain about ‘murder in the name of religion’. Bush is doing the same exact thing, fighting in the name of his god. Christians have done it for years, well BEFORE the muslims ever had. That’s the basis of religion. The I’m right you’re wrong policy of hatred and intolerance. I fully am disgusted by the brutality and inhumanity in the beheadings, but I’m also disgusted at the fact that our ‘elected dictator’ has chosen to do the exact same, much of it illegally in Iraq, based on the constitutionality and international policy this nation so proudly thinks it abides by. We should not be in Iraq, it should have been the other Islamic nations to take Saddam out. And there is no proven link between Al’Qaida and Iraq, just as there is no proof of weapons of mass destruction. It’s an unnecessary war that results in thousands of unnecessary deaths. Afghanistan however, we should be flattening with Titans as we speak. The arab world is not a world of hatred and mistrust, there are more than enough reasons for them to mistrust us. The terrorists are hateful, but they have legitimate causes, they want freedom from all oppression, and they see us as the great tyrant. I’m not saying they’re right, far from it, but we’re not right either. But that’s just the world we live in. No one has the BALLS to admit they’re wrong.
I see that you all complain about ‘murder in the name of religion’. Bush is doing the same exact thing, fighting in the name of his god. Christians have done it for years, well BEFORE the muslims ever had. That’s the basis of religion. The I’m right you’re wrong policy of hatred and intolerance. I fully am disgusted by the brutality and inhumanity in the beheadings, but I’m also disgusted at the fact that our ‘elected dictator’ has chosen to do the exact same, much of it illegally in Iraq, based on the constitutionality and international policy this nation so proudly thinks it abides by. We should not be in Iraq, it should have been the other Islamic nations to take Saddam out. And there is no proven link between Al’Qaida and Iraq, just as there is no proof of weapons of mass destruction. It’s an unnecessary war that results in thousands of unnecessary deaths. Afghanistan however, we should be flattening with Titans as we speak. The arab world is not a world of hatred and mistrust, there are more than enough reasons for them to mistrust us. The terrorists are hateful, but they have legitimate causes, they want freedom from all oppression, and they see us as the great tyrant. I’m not saying they’re right, far from it, but we’re not right either. But that’s just the world we live in. No one has the BALLS to admit they’re wrong.
You display your goods on a tv show called Third Watch. This show has people getting killed as a form of entertainment. I have a problem with this, and last night they killed an eight year old child. If you must promote violence on tv, why don’t you just do it with adults
I was reading through this and saw a comment by mike on the appointment of this country to the gardianship of freedom and who appointed us in that role….funny it seems as if the world appointed us as the world police man…seems like whenever there is trouble who do they turn to????The U.S. We have been placed in this role since we were dragged into WW2, and since then americans have continued to lay their lives down to defend what we believe is right.
I think we all have a pbl muslims or americans. I
“seems like whenever there is trouble who do they turn to????The U.S.”
Yes it was a great country !
I think that USA have qualified for civil war.
What happened to Yugoslavia.
Once they lived happy as the brothers.
Slobodan and Bush are the weak persons.
And now what we have.
no one can stop this reaction
Let me see what happened……….I was there in Bosnia, can’t do much when your hands are tied. We were a good country???Hows about we still are a GREAT country……and hows about you do some time for your government…….I have served over 12 yrs both active and reserve and am still in now. I don’t want to die, but if dying is what I have to do so that you can maintain your freedom and rights and to preserve the American way of life then so be it……….Funny thing is, when a person of the muslim faith goes out and commits horrible crimes against others it is called Jihad and acceptable but when we mistreat someone (and by all means I know as a military person we do mistreat, beat and generally torture people in our own fashions) it is a world travisty. Fuck you and your rightousness. Another thing…..lets look at this…in every major conflict going on in this world right now who is involved????MUSLIMS……….not christians, not buddists….MUSLIMS…..and not Americans….look at this point for a moment…….what is happening there in Iraq, afganistan…..muslims vs. US. Look what is happening in Chechneya, russians vs muslims………look at Yugoslavia…..Muslims vs everyone….why is it at the root of all things going on is it a muslim issue vs. the world thing.. Point taken…..again I state… the world made us what we are…big brother, policeman, rescuer. Stop coming to us and let us turn a blind eye……like i said before I dont want to die….but if I must i will proudly bear that cross……..just like the muslim faith has holy warriors…well I guess you could say that as an a american i am a holy warrior too..
so You are saying that West and East is determine to eliminate Islam and Mouslims ???
If is so, then let it be. I never was a true mouslim but will defend my liberty.
In that case will proudly bear the flag of Mouhamed as you sead “but if I must i will proudly bear that cross……..just like the muslim faith has holy warriors…well I guess you could say that as an a american i am a holy warrior too..”
As for now I wish you all the best and let peace be with us.
History has a way of repeating itself………………….
What should I say?
May God take us all to the right side, make this world better than it is today, and save our souls from Hellfire. I don’t know what kind of man P. Johnson was, but he did not deserve this. I pray for him, and for all of you who let the Islam look like a Religion of Evil.
I think it’s important that we remember why those guys go over there…they know the risk…the quest for tax free dollars is more important.
BUSH IS A FUCKING IDIOT, HE AND CHENEY SHOULD BOTH BE SHOT
BUSH IS A FUCKING IDIOT, HE AND CHENEY SHOULD BOTH BE S