The Islamist terror group ISIS claims it has beheaded a Japanese journalist, a week after beheading another Japanese hostage and demanding the release of a would-be suicide bomber.
A video released Saturday claimed that reporter Kenji Goto was executed after a Thursday deadline for Jordan to release prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi was not met. Although NBC News has not yet verified the tape, it appears consistent with other ISIS hostage videos, according to global security firm Flashpoint Intelligence.
ISIS had threatened to execute reporter Kenji Goto and Jordanian pilot 1st Lt. Mu'ath al-Kasaesbeh if al-Rishawi was not freed within 24 hours. She was on death row in Jordan after her explosives failed to detonate during a 2005 attack on a hotel in the capital of Amman.
Sajida al-Rishawi in 2006.
Jordan demanded proof of life of the two captives, while Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama told reporters Saturday that the situation was
ISIS initially demanded a ransom of $200 million for the release of Goto and fellow Japanese captive Haruna Yukawa. Goto had apparently ventured into Syria to rescue Yukawa, who was taken hostage last summer. However, ISIS released a video on Jan. 24 claiming it had beheaded Yukawa and requesting al-Rishawi's release instead.
ISIS later said they would also execute al-Kaseasbeh if al-Rishawi, who is on death row, was not freed. Al-Kasaesbeh has been held by ISIS since his plane crashed in Syria in December. ISIS made no mention of the pilot in Saturday's video.
Both Japanese and U.S. officials said they were working to authenticate the tape.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that leaders were holding an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the purported killing. "We cannot suppress the extreme anger that such an immoral and despicable terrorist act was repeated again. Again, we condemn this act," Suga said.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan also demanded that all of ISIS's hostages should be released. "We stand in solidarity with our ally Japan," she said in a statement.
IN-DEPTH
- Efforts to Free ISIS Hostage Reach 'Stalemate': Japanese Official
- Jordan 'Working Around the Clock' After ISIS Hostage Deadline Passes
- ISIS Claims It Executed Haruna Yukawa, One of Two Japanese Hostages
SOCIAL
— Alexander Smith, Elisha Fieldstadt and Arata Yamamoto
First published January 31 2015, 12:36 PM
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1LwEsCO
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