Spanish journalist Javier Espinosa wrote in the Sunday Times that militant Mohammed Emwazi played a lead role in the mock executions.Emwazi is the Londoner nicknamed Jihadi John who has played a central role in a series of beheading videos made in Syria.
Espinosa describes how the militants took pleasure in telling their hostages daily that they would be beheaded.
He said Emwazi used an antique sword for the mock executions and followed up by placing a Glock pistol against his head and pulling the trigger three times. Other hostages faced similar tactics.
Espinosa was released last March after being held hostage for more than six months.
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