Reports have claimed that Mohammed Emwazi has fled terror group Islamic State, after gaining notoriety as “Jihadi John”, the executioner behind multiple beheadings.

After carrying out a number of the group’s beheadings, Emwazi’s notable absence from latest ISIL execution videos has fuelled speculation as to the whereabouts of the 26-year-old.

It is believed that the computer science graduate from London became concerned with the amount of publicity he had received via the grisly beheading videos, the last of which was posted in January.

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In that video, Emwazi is shown beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

It has been reported that “Jihadi John” fled ISIL after being identified for the beheadings, which also included British and American hostages.

According to The Mirror, Emwazi had grown concerned that ISIL would kill him, as his media profile had devalued him to the group.

Also of concern was the possibility rival terrorist cells may find and kill him now that his identity has been revealed.

A source told The Mirror that Emwazi’s fears were likely justified, predicting ISIL would drop him “like a stone or worse” if he became of no use to them.

“It is possible he will end up suffering the same fate as his victims,” the source said.

A spokesperson for the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation has called the disappearance a stunt, suggesting Emwazi may have disappeared to raise his profile.

“It does not make sense to think that they would ‘drop him like a stone’,” said Nick Kaderbhai, a research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation.

“It’s not like he’s a captured Westerner who has lost propaganda value.

“If anything, the less he is featured, the more impact he will have.”

Emwazi is being sought by both Britain and the US for the executions of aid workers and journalists including Stephen Sotloff, James Foley, David Haines, Alan Henning and Peter Kassig.