Reaction from the families of the Western hostages killed by Islamic State has been mixed, a day after an infamous militant known as "Jihadi John" was identified as a 27-year-old Londoner called Mohammed Emwazi.

The family of Steven Sotloff, the US journalist beheaded in an Islamic State video, have said they have "full faith" that his alleged killer will be brought to justice.

Speaking to Sky News, the family's spokesman Barak Barfi said: "They hope that he will be caught by American intelligence officials, brought to trial in the United States, and convicted for the crime of beheading their son.

"There's going to be no closure until these people are brought to justice. This is just one step in a long path. The Taliban were toppled in Afghanistan, al Qaeda was eradicated in Afghanistan, and we believe that one day, Islamic State's end will come.

"When that comes, people like Jihadi John will have nowhere to run."

The mother of James Foley, the first US journalist murdered by the militant group, has said she forgives "Jihadi John" - and described Emwazi's apparent involvement with the terror organisation as "an ongoing tragedy".

Diane Foley told The Times: "It saddens me, his continued hatred. He felt wronged, now we hate him - now that just prolongs the hatred. We need to end it."

Loved ones of David Haines, the British aid worker believed to have died at the hands of Emwazi, are also divided on what would bring closure to victims' families.

Whereas his wife, Dragana, told the BBC that Emwazi's death was "the last thing I would want for someone like him", Mr Haines' daughter, Bethany, told ITV News that she would only feel closure "once there's a bullet between his eyes".

Mohammed Emwazi

Emwazi is reported to have been identified by US authorities in September, a month after he featured in a video killing James Foley.

Since then "Jihadi John" has appeared in a series of videos documenting the gruesome murders of other hostages, including British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines.

In each, he taunts audiences and is dressed in all black, with a balaclava covering his face. He wears a holster under his left arm.

Last month, Emwazi appeared in a video with the Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, shortly before they were killed.

Scrutiny is mounting over claims that Emwazi, a graduate from the University of Westminster, was already known to MI5 before he joined the ranks of IS in 2013.

Sir Menzies Campbell has said the Intelligence and Security Committee will likely seek answers about what information had been held on Emwazi - but this process will not take place until after the British general election.

Both Scotland Yard and Downing Street have refused to confirm reports of Emwazi's identity.

According to Asim Qureshi, a director of the CAGE campaign group, Emwazi had been continually harassed by security agencies before he joined IS - and described the now-infamous militant as "extremely kind and gentle" and "the most beautiful young man".

The British group CAGE, which lobbies against the US-led war on terror, claims to have had extensive dealings with the alleged IS militant over several years.

Mr Qureshi was speaking after CAGE issued a statement claiming the behaviour of UK authorities had played a major part in the radicalisation of young Muslims like "Jihadi John".

CAGE says security services have "systematically engaged in the harassment of young Muslims, rendering their lives impossible and leaving them with no legal avenue to redress their situation".