The group known as Jund al-Khilafa killed 55-year-old Herve Gourdel after a deadline for France to halt air strikes on IS in Iraq ended. French president Francois Hollande condemned the killing as a “cruel and cowardly” act. He added that air strikes would continue in Iraq.

Hollande said that Gourdel’s abduction and decapitation was a barbaric act of terrorism.

Jund al-Khilafa posted a video of Gourdel being killed, which was entitled “Message of blood for the French government.”

Gourdel was a mountain guide from the French Alps and was rock climbing east of Algeria’s capital, Algiers, when he was kidnapped on Sept. 22. Groudel was a tourist in an area popular with French holiday-makers, which has added to the sense of shock.

A Facebook page was started for Herve Gourdel. Our condolences go out to Gourdel’s friends and family.


-Gripped editor Brandon Pullan will update the story as more details are available.