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Kenji Goto: Video 'shows IS beheading Japan hostage' Japan outraged at IS 'beheading' of hostage Kenji Goto
(about 3 hours later)
A video has been released online purporting to show the beheading of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto by Islamic State militants. Japan has reacted with anger and defiance to a video purporting to show the beheading of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto by an Islamic State militant.
The video comes less than a week after news of the beheading of another Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan "would not give in to terrorism" and that he would expand his support to countries fighting IS.
Mr Goto, 47, is a well-known freelance journalist and film-maker who went to Syria in October, reportedly to try to secure Mr Yukawa's release. IS has cited Japanese aid as a reason for the hostage taking.
Japan, as well as the US, UK and France, has condemned the killing. The video comes less than a week after the apparent beheading of another Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa.
The video, which bears the same symbols as previous IS videos, shows a militant with a British accent beheading Mr Goto. Mr Goto, 47, a respected journalist known for his work covering the suffering of civilians in war zones, went to Syria in October, reportedly to try to secure Mr Yukawa's release.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Japan was "outraged" by the video, adding that the cabinet was meeting to decide a response to it. The video, which has all the hallmarks of previous IS propaganda videos, has not been authenticated, but Japanese officials believe it is genuine.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan "would not give in to terrorism" and said he would increase aid to the Middle East. Mr Abe called it a "heinous act", adding that Japan would work with the international community to bring those responsible for Mr Goto's apparent murder to justice.
He added Japan would work with the international community to bring those responsible for Kenji Goto's apparent murder to justice. There has been strong condemnation from the US and other allies in the fight against IS.
Mr Goto's mother Junko Ishido said she "can't find the words" to describe his death, saying he had gone to Syria out of "kindness and courage". Mr Goto's mother Junko Ishido said she was speechless at his death, saying he had gone to Syria out of "kindness and courage".
His brother Junichi told Japanese broadcaster NHK TV: "I was hoping Kenji would come back alive to thank everyone who had supported him." "I was hoping Kenji would come back alive," his brother Junichi told Japanese broadcaster NHK TV.
"I am filled with sadness he couldn't do it.'' World leaders react
Sunset deadline US President Barack Obama said "the United States condemns the heinous murder of Japanese citizen and journalist Kenji Goto by the terrorist group ISIL (IS). Through his reporting, Mr Goto courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world".
President Obama said in a statement the US condemns "the heinous murder" of Mr Goto. British Prime Minister David Cameron said "I utterly condemn what appears to be the despicable and appalling murder of Kenji Goto. It is a further reminder that ISIL is the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life".
Britain and France have also condemned the apparent killing. French President Francois Hollande said he "resolutely condemned the brutal murder of Japanese citizen Kenji Goto by Daesh (IS). France stands in solidarity with Japan in this new ordeal".
UK Prime Minister David Cameron called IS "the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life". Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot said "if true, this will be a terrible shock for the people of Japan, an unspeakable horror for the family and this just demonstrates how important it is that all countries do what they reasonably can to disrupt and degrade this death cult which has ushered in a new dark age over parts of the Middle East".
Japanese officials had been working with Jordan to secure the release of Mr Goto and a Jordanian pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was shot down over Syria in December.Japanese officials had been working with Jordan to secure the release of Mr Goto and a Jordanian pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was shot down over Syria in December.
However, earlier on Saturday they said negotiations had become deadlocked.However, earlier on Saturday they said negotiations had become deadlocked.
An IS video released on Tuesday said Mr Goto had "only 24 hours left to live" and Mr Kasasbeh "even less". An IS video released on Tuesday had said Mr Goto had "only 24 hours left to live" and Mr Kasasbeh "even less".
They later gave a deadline of sunset on Thursday for a deal by which Mr Goto would be freed in return for Jordan releasing captured Iraqi militant Sajida al-Rishawi.They later gave a deadline of sunset on Thursday for a deal by which Mr Goto would be freed in return for Jordan releasing captured Iraqi militant Sajida al-Rishawi.
But the deal may have been complicated by Jordan's demand that Mr Kasasbeh also be released.But the deal may have been complicated by Jordan's demand that Mr Kasasbeh also be released.
The latest video gave no mention of Mr Kasasbeh's fate: his family said they were praying he was safe.The latest video gave no mention of Mr Kasasbeh's fate: his family said they were praying he was safe.
IS had initially demanded a $200m (£130m) ransom for the two Japanese hostages. An adviser to the Japanese prime minister, Tomohiko Tanguchi, said his country had never made direct contact with IS throughout the negotiations.
The militants had initially demanded a $200m (£130m) ransom for the two Japanese hostages, the same as Mr Abe pledged in in non-military aid for countries fighting Islamic State.