A video has emerged showing Paris terrorist Ahmed Coulibaly pledging allegiance to Islamic State (IS).
The clip was reportedly posted by the militant group on Twitter this morning - two days after the 32-year-old attacked a Jewish supermarket in the French capital, killing four people.
It shows him in several different locations and wearing a number of outfits including traditional Islamic dress, combat fatigues and western clothing such as a black leather jacket, while he is also seen posing with automatic weapons.
During the footage Coulibaly, who died when police stormed the Kosher store on Friday, discusses how he worked alongside the brothers who massacred 12 people at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
He discusses his motivation for the rampage, claiming that it was “justified” after “attacks” on IS.
The seven-minute video opens with Coulibaly working out and doing press-ups, followed by text describing him as a “Soldier of the Caliphate” and the “author” of an attack in Montrouge - during which a police officer was killed on Thursday.
The caption goes on: “The next day he conducted an attack ... in which he took 17 people hostage and executed five Jews.”
It also claims he put an explosive charge on a car which detonated on a Paris street.
Text is shown posing the question: “To which group do you belong?”
Coulibaly then appears on screen wearing a bandana and apparently speaking from a pre-written Arabic script in front of a white background, which includes an image of a black emblem used by Islamic State.
Around half way through, the clip changes to show him in a different location sitting on a sofa, wearing camouflage body armour.
Later it moves to another shot in which he is wearing a leather jacket, sitting casually with what appears to be a machine gun next to him.
Speaking calmly and in well-spoken French, and looking directly into the camera, Coulibaly says he and the brothers “synchronised” the atrocities.
“I went out a bit against the police,” he said.
“We did things a little bit together, a little bit separately to have more impact, you know.
“I helped him in his project by giving him a few thousand euros so he could finish off what he had bought.
“We managed to synchronise to come out at the same time.”
The video also gives an insight into the group’s motivation for the attacks.
A caption asks: "Why did you attack France, Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish grocery store?"
He says: “What we are in the process of doing is completely legitimate.
“Moreover, it has been deserved for sometime. If you attack the caliphate, if you attack the Islamic State, we will attack you.”
“You and your coalition ...you bombarded regularly over there.
“You are killing civilians, fighters. Why? Because we live by Sharia law?
“Is it you who decides what happens on earth? Is it? No. We can’t let that happen. We are going to fight, God willing.”
He repeatedly asks Muslims everywhere, but particularly in the West,: “What are you doing? What are you doing my brothers?
“I’ve moved around a lot. I have been in the mosques, a bit in France, but particularly the Paris region. They are full, full of young fit men. They are full of sporty, young people. They are full of healthy men.
“How with all these thousands, these millions of young people, aren’t there enough to defend their own?”
Agencies