BAGHDAD — Iraq security agencies are working to verify the authenticity of a video that purportedly shows the elusive leader of the Sunni extremist group that has declared an Islamic state in a large chunk of territory it controls, authorities said.
The video said to show Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State group, was reportedly made Friday at the Great Mosque in Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul.
A senior Iraqi intelligence official said Saturday initial analysis indicates the man in the video is Baghdadi.
The Mosul sermon would be the first public appearance for the Islamic State leader.
Baghdadi, who has a $10 million bounty on his head, took over the group four years ago.
Iraqi military spokesman Lieutenant General Qassim al-Moussawi told reporters Sunday the country’s security services are still analyzing the 21-minute video to verify whether the speaker is indeed Baghdadi.