The world woke up to a gruesome sophisticated video message yesterday as the Islamic State posted the beheading of a 40-year-old freelance US journalist online.

IS might be centred in the middle of nowhere – a dustbowl that is has carved out of former Iraqi and Syrian territory. But it is increasingly drawing western fighters of Middle Eastern origin to its ranks – the man who spoke in the video and proceeded to behead Tom Foley was one of them. A man clad in black told US President Barrack Obama that the killing of Mr Foley was his responsibility after having ordered airstrikes against IS militants.

That man clad in black had perfect English – most likely a midlands or Yorkshire accent. He took part in the video, in which a remarkably courageous Foley repeated his set and rehearsed lines before being decapitated. The video cuts out, but then shows you the severed head of Foley lying atop his body.

If anyone was in doubt that IS was a serious and deadly force, then those doubts have truly been quashed. This newspaper published an interview with Foreign Minister George Vella who believes that IS is a threat to everyone, including Malta. He said that Libya was a particular worry and this has sparked debate about whether Malta’s neutrality clause is the best avenue to pursue. Malta is a European Union member and by default, would receive support from the EU and Partnership for Peace members.

But what is all the more worrying is that the Islamic State’s borders are now very close to those of Turkey – a full Nato member. Any incursion or attack on Turkish soil would spark a full blown war.

Imam Al Sadi – who is the Imam for Muslims in Malta – wrote a very strong piece, published on the back page of this newspaper today, in which he calls the IS enemies of Islam. He is absolutely right. But this group that has (to put it into context) been branded too brutal even by Al-Qaeda, is not only an enemy to Muslims, but the humanity as a whole. This is wholesale and widespread propagation of terror and barbarism.

IS is not just a terrorist state, it is the propagation of a totally intolerant ideology that knows no borders. If allowed to, it will spread wide and far and very quickly. If it is not stemmed now, it could permeate North Africa, Eastern Europe and even Africa. Make no mistake – this is a threat that needs to be dealt with now. This newspaper joins in sending condolences to Mr Foley’s family. Mr Foley was an exemplary journalist who did his job to tell the story of suffering of people in troubled spots around the world. It is also heartbreaking to see that at the end of the video, the IS produced another journalist, another American citizen whose life is being held to ransom.