Inside Islamic State: German journalist's trip to Raqqa

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Inside Islamic State: German journalist's trip to Raqqa where Jihadi John was his driver and white jihadist told him about beheading of James Foley

Jurgen Todenhofer spent 10 days with ISIS militants in Iraq for a new book
He asked German jihadist what happened to murdered hostages bodies
The militant, known as Abu Qatadah, said they're 'tossed into the ground'
Mr Todenhofer also believes his driver during the trip was Jihadi John

A German journalist has lifted the lid on what it is like living under the Islamic State after a trip to Raqqa where Jihadi John was his driver and he was told by a white militant that the body of James Foley was just 'tossed onto the ground' after he was beheaded.

Jurgen Todenhofer made the journey in 2014 to both Mosul and Raqqa - ISIS held cities in Iraq and Syria - after negotiating a visit with the terror group's senior leaders.

While he was there with his son Frederic, they were shown how people live under the terror group and were given more details about the executions of western hostages, including American journalist James Foley.

Mr Foley, from Rochester, New Hampshire, was captured not far from the Syrian border with Turkey in 2012 by a small jihadist group which would later swear fealty to ISIS.

He was held hostage before being beheaded by the executioner known as Jihadi John in a graphic video released in August 2014.

Now in a new book, My Journey Into the Heart of Terror, serialized in the Guardian, Mr Todenhofer, writes that he asked a German extremist named as Abu Qatadah what happened to the murdered hostages.

The question came as Mr Tofenhoder was taken to the place in Raqqa where ISIS fighters decapitated the heads of enemies as his son Frederic was told not to take any pictures.

And according to the book, Qatadah replied: 'They were buried individually, or rather, tossed onto the ground. Somewhere.'

Mr Todenhoffer also reveals how the driver who took them around while they were staying with ISIS fighters later transpired to be Jihadi John.

He also adds that they asked to interview the ISIS executioner and British hostage, journalist John Cantlie, but were told no.

Meanwhile on another visit during his time with ISIS, the jounalist was given a tour of the caliphate's publishing departemnt where he saw literature being created including brochures called 'How to Handle Your Slaves' and 'How Women Should Behave and Dress'.

He also described how slaves were bought and sold and that a Yazidi woman could sell for over £1,000, the same price as a Kalashnikov.

The writer also adds that ISIS finances itself through assets seized by war, sales of oil and the zakat.

His incredible journey to visit ISIS-held territory was the result of months of negotiations via Skype with the terror group's senior leadership.

Having previously written articles critical of ISIS, Todenhofer demanded written assurances that he would not come to harm and, astonishingly, the terror group kept their word.

Upon return the journalist told how ISIS is a larger and more united force than is widely believed in the West, and said he was concerned America and Britain had underestimated the jihadis.

The terror group also released a number of videos showing the murders of fellow American journalist Steven Sotloff, British humanitarian Alan Henning and David Haines, another British aid worker.

Fellow captives have spoken out about their time in prison with Foley, whom they referred to as a pillar of strength.

They revealed that he received the most brutal treatment out of dozens of hostages because he was American.

The fellow prisoners claimed that as early as August 2013 - before ISIS caught the world's attention with its huge land grab in Iraq - Foley would regularly be lashed to a metal bar by the ankles and left dangling from the ceiling for hours.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... umped.html