Iraq: Mass Beheadings Reported In Mosul And Tikrit, America Watches As Iraq Speeds Toward Destruction

Following reports of thousands of Christians fleeing Mosul in the aftermath of the Islamist takeover and the seizure of churches comes a disturbing report of mass beheadings in the cities of Mosul and Tikrit, according to a “live blog” report by The Telegraph’s Harriet Alexander and Barney Henderson.  Iraqi police have confirmed that the central city of Tikrit is now in the hands of ISIS. While there are no details at this time regarding the identity of those being beheaded by Islamic militants, many will undoubtedly be Christian …

Flashback: Rebels Attack Christian Homes, Churches, Many Feared Dead, ‘Convert To Islam Or You Will Be Beheaded’

“ISIS fighters happy as they head to Samarra. Sunni city w\ important Shiite Al-Askari mosque” [Twitter]

By Tova Dvorin and Ari Soffer, INN – “The Al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has attacked the central Iraqi city of Tikrit, security sources told BBC News Wednesday, less than 48 hours after taking over the northern city of Mosul.

The Islamists have attacked the Turkish embassy there, officials said, and are holding at least 49 people hostage. Reuters reports Wednesday evening that all 49 have been taken to an ISIS hideout and are, allegedly, unharmed; Ankara has vowed to respond if any one of the captives are harmed.

Police officials also told the British Telegraph that the group had freed some 300 inmates in a city prison there and made advances in parts of Kirkuk; local authorities have reported mass beheadings throughout the city.

Tikrit, located in Salaheddin province, is dictator Saddam Hussein’s birthplace, and is located just 150 km (95 miles) north of Baghdad.

Reports of Tikrit’s takeover surface less than 24 hours after Iraqi parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi predicted that the ISIS were turning south – specifically toward the Salaheddin province.

Security sources also told AFP early Wednesday evening that the Islamists have extended beyond Tikrit, now fighting Iraqi forces in Samarra.” Read more.

Jihadis Loot $429m From City’s Central Bank To Make Isis World’s Richest Terror Force – “The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams (Isis) has become the richest terror group ever after looting 500 billion Iraqi dinars – the equivalent of $429m (£256m) – from Mosul’s central bank, according to the regional governor. Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi confirmed Kurdish televison reports that Isis militants had stolen millions from numerous banks across Mosul. A large quantity of gold bullion is also believed to have been stolen. Following the siege of the country’s second city, the bounty collected by the group has left it richer than al-Qaeda itself and as wealthy as small nations such as Tonga, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Falkland Islands.” Read more.