HSBC staff sacked after filming ISIS-style mock execution during team-building day out

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Bank staff wore black overalls and balaclavas during eight-second video
Colleague kneels in orange jumpsuit as one worker shouts 'Allahu Akbar'
Another brandishes a coat hanger as a fake knife during mock execution
Six men - thought to be legal staff - were sacked after video emerged
Do you know the men involved? Phone 0203 615 2676 or email richard.spillett@mailonline.co.uk
Birmingham MP Shabana Mahmood said mock video was 'unacceptable'

By Ollie Gillman and Richard Spillett for MailOnline

Published: 18:15 EST, 6 July 2015 | Updated: 13:24 EST, 7 July 2015

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Bank customers have slammed HSBC after six of its workers made a mock ISIS execution video during a team-building day at a go karting centre.

The footage, posted online, shows five men in black overalls and balaclavas laughing as they stand over an Asian colleague, named as Saf Ahmed, who is kneeling in an orange jumpsuit.

One of the workers shouts 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for 'God is great' - as an 'executioner' brandishes a coat hanger as a fake knife.

The bank revealed it has sacked six of its staff today as their stunt was branded 'utter, utter idiocy' online.

A video published this morning shows six HSBC workers mocking up an ISIS execution during a training day

The video has caused fury among customers and Twitter users, who hit out at the bank online today

Ben Rose tweeted: 'That HSBC mock ISIS beheading. Supposed educated individuals. Bunch of absolute morons more like.'

And another user added: 'HSBC only sacked those 'ISIS' goons because the film was made public. Imagine what goes on in private at that place.'

Shabana Mahmood, the MP for Birmingham Ladywood, where the video was made, said everyone had been 'shocked and appalled at the horrific murders' carried out by ISIS.

She added: 'At a time when we must do all we can to tackle the threat of [ISIS], inappropriate and offensive behaviour such as this mock video is unacceptable.'

Bosses at Teamworks Karting in Birmingham said they are 'shocked and disappointed' by the men's actions and insisted staff were completely unaware of what they were doing.

The company said in statement: 'We do not in any way condone this shocking behaviour. The abhorrent video was filmed without our knowledge, during a private party booked by one of our corporate clients and we would not wish this to reflect negatively on Teamworks.

'We have complained to HSBC and understand that the individuals involved have since been sacked.'

The eight-second video, obtained by The Sun, was shot during a team-building exercise at the track in Birmingham which was organised by the bank.

It is understood the film was made when the men were on a team-building exercise at a go kart track

In a chilling echo of Jihadi John's execution videos, the men - thought to be legal staff - stand behind their colleague holding the scruff of his neck.

Both British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines wore similar orange jumpsuits to the one seen in the HSBC workers' footage when they were killed in the barbaric executions last year.

Mr Ahmed denied any knowledge of the video, which was posted on Instagram but later deleted.

A HSBC spokesperson said: 'We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour.

'We took the decision to sack the individuals involved. This is an abhorrent video and HSBC would like to apologise for any offence caused.'

The workers' video is the latest scandal for HSBC, which earlier this year was accused of helping rich clients avoid tax and turning a blind eye to arms dealers.

On the 'Our Values' page of its website, HSBC Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver says: 'By setting the highest standards of behavior our aim is that all of our employees and customers can be proud of our business.'

Six staff from HSBC (whose Birmingham building is pictured, left) have been sacked after filming the video

ISIS has used its carefully-produced propaganda videos to recruit extremists from around the world to its cause.

The horrific footage of the beheadings of US and British hostages featuring the killer known-as 'Jihadi John' were designed to cause maximum shock around the world.

Hostages were put in orange jumpsuits in a perverse reference to inmates at Guantanamo Bay detention camp, where high-risk terrorists were imprisoned by the US authorities.

The videos were spread through social media and YouTube in a bid to attract radicals from around the world to their side.

It is not the first time the propaganda videos have been recreated for poor-taste jokes. Earlier this year, actress Dakota Johnson was criticised for filming an ISIS-themed skit for US show Saturday Night Live.

The sequence poked fun at a Toyota advert, but showed Johnson jumping into the back of an ISIS jeep. The sketch was slammed as 'depraved' and 'tasteless' by viewers.

Do you know the men involved? Phone 0203 615 2676 or email richard.spillett@mailonline.co.uk

The footage posted online shows five men in black overalls and balaclavas laughing as they stand over an Asian colleague at an indoor go-karting centre (pictured) in Birmingham