Utahn reported beheaded

Fear, grief and uncertainty over the fate of a Marine from West Jordan intensified throughout Utah, America and much of the world as a report circulated Friday that Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun had been beheaded by his captors.

However, the group claiming responsibility had not posted any evidence as of late Saturday, hours after the assertion was broadcast worldwide. The group's name has been cited as the Ansar al-Sunna Army and as Jaish Ansar al-Sunna.

When the report broke about the claims, Ansar al-Sunna supposedly was saying it would "soon" post video of the killing. But no video had immediately surfaced and no official confirmation had come that Hassoun, a Lebanese-American, was dead.

At midafternoon, Imam Shuaib-Ud Din, the local Islamic leader in West Valley City, urged caution and patience.

"As of yet, we have not received any confirmation of Corporal Hassoun's death," Imam Shuaib said after prayers at the Khadeeja Mosque. "We would like to request that the varying media outlets not to jump to conclusions, not to jump on the bandwagon."

Imam Shuaib also visited the home Hassoun shared with his brothers and family members in West Jordan. Other Utahns drove in to drop off bouquets of flowers in front of the house. The house remained closed up, bordered by flapping American flags that a Boy Scout troop had installed.

According to the Arabic media outlet al-Jazeera, the group calling itself Jaish Ansar al-Sunna posted a statement on a Web site claiming it had killed Hassoun. The militant group said Hassoun had been captured "after he had a romantic liaison with an Arab girl," said al-Jazeera.

The claim that he had ventured off base for a liaison is in line with the first reports of his capture, which said he had been lured off base. It contrasts sharply with a New York Times story last week that quoted an unnamed Marine officer as saying he thought Hassoun had deserted because he was traumatized by witnessing a violent death, a sergeant blown up by a mortar.

According to the Associated Press, Ansar al-Sunna Army wrote, "We would like to inform you that the Marine of Lebanese origin Hassoun has been slaughtered. You are going to see the video with your very own eyes soon." The message said it was from Abdullah al-Hassan bin Mahmoud. The group also said it was holding another hostage.

Defense Department officials have listed Hassoun as "captured." They say he was last seen June 19 and then failed to report for duty the following day. Throughout Saturday, the Defense Department did not confirm the reported execution.

Almost a week after the Marine was missing, video of a blindfolded Hassoun turned up on al-Jazeera from a group calling themselves "National Islamic Resistance — 1920 Revolutionary Brigades." Holding a sword over his head, the group threatened to behead Hassoun unless U.S. forces released Iraqi prisoners.

Deseret Morning News graphicTimelineRequires Adobe Acrobat.