"We did not find it ourselves," he told the AP, saying he had been unaware of the origin of the photograph and said he believed it was sent to the group as an example of a provocation."

Certainly it was "provocation".

But by whom?

Who has a direct physical material interest in stirring up strife between the west and Islam?

That is always the first step in finding out who's really behind things.

Religious extremism is just a tool of politics.