The US has confirmed that the video showing the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff by Islamic State militants is authentic.
Mr Sotloff, 31, was abducted in northern Syria in August 2013.
He had appeared in a video last month which showed fellow US journalist James Foley being killed.
The UK has held a meeting of its emergency Cobra committee after threats to kill a British hostage who was also shown in the latest video.
US National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said: "The US Intelligence Community has analysed the recently released video showing US citizen Steven Sotloff and has reached the judgment that it is authentic."
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also said "preliminary analysis" had suggested the video was genuine.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Sotloff. We are doing everything we can to reassure the family of the British hostage who was shown in the video," he said.
A spokesman for the Sotloff family had earlier indicated they believed the video was genuine, issuing a statement that said: "The family knows of this horrific tragedy and is grieving privately. There will be no public comment from the family during this difficult time."
Before the verification was confirmed, US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki had said: "If the video is genuine, we are sickened by this brutal act, taking the life of another innocent American citizen. Our hearts go out to the Sotloff family."
Ms Psaki said it was believed that "a few" other Americans were still being held by Islamic State.
Source: BBC
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