US military 'reasonably certain Jihadi John' killed in attack'

The US has said it is "reasonably certain" Mohammed Emwazi, the IS militant known as 'Jihadi John', has been killed in an US-led drone attack.

It comes after meticulous planning by both US and British forces.

Computer graduate Emwazi, who was born in Kuwait and raised in London, was wanted for a string of brutal murders of seven Western hostages including Britons David Haines and Alan Henning - many of which were broadcast in propaganda videos by the radical group.

Bethany Haines, daughter of David Haines, told ITV News she felt an "instant sense of relief" when she heard the news Emwazi may have been killed.

ITV News UK Editor Rohit Kachroo reports:

A British drone was in the air at the time of the US-led strike on Islamic State militant Mohammed Emwazi.

UK Government sources told ITV News a UK drone was in the air but said the missile was fired by a US drone.

The White House have said the families of hostages killed in Syria were contacted about the strike which is believed to have killed Mohammed Emwazi before reports of it were made public.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said:

The parents of beheaded American journalist Steven Sotloff have said the reported death of their son's killer Mohammed Emwazi "doesn’t change anything".

Art and Shirley Sotloff said in a statement that action against the Islamic State militant was "too little too late" as their son was "never coming back".

A suspected British associate of Mohammed Emwazi has reportedly been detained.

According to Reuters two senior Turkish officials confirmed the suspected associate, thought to be Aine Lesley Davis, was being held by authorities in Turkey.

Officials who detained Davis in Istanbul said he is one of a group of British Islamists believed to have been assigned to guard foreign prisoners in Syria.

The family of 'Jihadi John' victim James Foley have said news that their son's killer is believed to have died in a US-led drone attack brings them "very small solace" as "his death does not bring Jim back".

The murdered journalist's parents John and Diane Foley said:

The Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John", who is believed to have been killed in a US-led airstrike, was targeted as he traveled in a car with his driver, a military official has confirmed.

Colonel Steve Warren told a press conference "they were in a car".

A US military official has described the Islamic State militant known as Jihadi John as a "human animal" and said the world is "probably a better place" without him.

Colonel Steve Warren, the US's Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said in a Pentagon briefing:

The US military has confirmed that it is "reasonably certain" Mohammed Emwazi, the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John", was killed in a recent US led airstrike.

Colonel Steve Warren, the US's Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, said US military intelligence gave them "great confidence" Jihadi John was killed in the planned drone attack but further verification needed to be done.

Confirming Emwazi was "the only high-value individual" targeted in the Raqqa strike Col. Warren said the airstrike was a "significant blow" to Islamic State.

He said: "This was significant as Jihadi John was an Isil celebrity if you will, kind of the face of the organisation in many senses, so there's certainly I think a significant blow to their prestige of Isil. But Jihadi John wasn't a major tactical figure or operational figure."