The shocking photographs showing mass executions of hostages by Islamist insurgents, which were published by members of ISIL, have caused outrage and repugnance.

According to news agency Associated Press, the authenticity of the photographs is confirmed by the Iraqi government, which claims to know about mass executions in Tikrit.

The executions, according to information, were made after Islamist insurgents occupied the city Tikrit in northern Iraq and the photos were published on an Islamic website.

The photos show Iraqi soldiers captured even though they are wearing civilian clothes. They were led to the place of execution, forced to lie face-down in a shallow ditch with their arms tied behind their backs. There were images showing the bodies of the captives soaked in blood after being shot. While some of the insurgents were shooting the hostages at a close distance, other were taking gruesome pictures. The insurgents published the photographs of the dead bodies after the brutal execution.

WARNING: Graphic content