WATCH ABOVE: NBC’s Keir Simmons reports from London on apparent ISIS threats against Twitter for closing down ISIS-related accounts.
TORONTO – Twitter Inc. says it’s working with law enforcement authorities to investigate alleged threats made by Islamic State militants against the social media company and its co-founder Jack Dorsey.
An online message posted anonymously to Justpaste.it Sunday urges “individual jihadis” from around the world to target Twitter’s headquarters and kill its employees.
“Your virtual war on us will cause a real war on you,” reads a post translated by Buzzfeed.com. “We told you from the beginning it’s not your war, but you didn’t get it and kept closing our accounts on Twitter, but we always come back. But when our lions come and take your breath, you will never come back to life.”
“Don’t allow any one of the atheists to survive,” reads the post, which includes a graphic of Dorsey’s face in the cross sights of a gun.
In a statement released Monday, a Twitter spokesperson told Buzzfeed its “security team is investigating the veracity of these threats with relevant law enforcement officials.”
The Islamic State group have used social media networks like Twitter to recruit young people around the world. They have also used social media to publicize gruesome acts of violence including the beheadings of journalists and aid workers.
READ MORE: Social media used to prey on US teens to join Islamic State
In the wake of violent acts, like the beheading of American journalist James Foley, social media companies have removed posts and suspended accounts that include gruesome content, such as executions.
Twitter’s user policy prohibits the use of its service for violence and threats, stating on its website: “Users may not make direct, specific threats of violence against others, including threats against a person or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or disability.”
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