Following reports of several crucifixions by ISIS over the weekend, the UN has reported at least 40 more civilians were killed in the past 24 hours, and that they were executed aas suspected collaborators, and hung on poles around the city as an example.

This means ISIS has executed more than 60 people over the past week, all of them hung publicly in positions of prominence around the city. ISIS has long used such high-profile displays to try to scare other potential opponents into loyalty.

In some places, ISIS has eagerly killed large numbers to make an example of enemies, and this is also true in Mosul, where since the invasion began they have killed a large number of people who used to be members of the Iraqi security forces, or are otherwise seen as likely to back the invading forces.

It is unclear how many of the people ISIS is executing are actually collaborating with the Iraqi security forces, but Iraqi officials have highly publicized claims that they have large amounts of support within Mosul. While this is likely an attempt to lower morale among ISIS forces, it also seems to be fueling paranoia.