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| Latest Islamic State video threatens lives of two Japanese hostages | Latest Islamic State video threatens lives of two Japanese hostages |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Islamic State has released a video threatening the lives of two Japanese hostages and demanding a $200m (£130m) ransom from their government. | Islamic State has released a video threatening the lives of two Japanese hostages and demanding a $200m (£130m) ransom from their government. |
| The 1min 40sec film entitled “A message to the government at the people of Japan” begins with footage in English from Japan’s public broadcaster giving details of a multimillion-dollar Middle Eastern aid package announced just a few days ago by the prime minister, Shinzo Abe. | The 1min 40sec film entitled “A message to the government at the people of Japan” begins with footage in English from Japan’s public broadcaster giving details of a multimillion-dollar Middle Eastern aid package announced just a few days ago by the prime minister, Shinzo Abe. |
| Standing between two kneeling hostages wearing orange jumpsuits and named on screen as Kenji Goto Jogo and Huruna Yukawa, a British-sounding militant dressed in the now-familiar black robe and mask and brown leather gun belt, demands that $100m be paid for the life of each hostage within three days. | |
| “To the prime minister of Japan, although you are 8,500km from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade,” the militant says in the video. | “To the prime minister of Japan, although you are 8,500km from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade,” the militant says in the video. |
| Standing on a hillside in a rocky desert, which appears to be similar to that of previous hostage footage, he continues: “You have proudly donated $100m to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims.” | Standing on a hillside in a rocky desert, which appears to be similar to that of previous hostage footage, he continues: “You have proudly donated $100m to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims.” |
| Gesturing with a knife to the man believed to be Goto, he says: “So the life of this Japanese citizen will cost you $100m.” | Gesturing with a knife to the man believed to be Goto, he says: “So the life of this Japanese citizen will cost you $100m.” |
| Pointing at the man named on screen as Yukawa he says it will cost the Japanese government another $100m to save him. | Pointing at the man named on screen as Yukawa he says it will cost the Japanese government another $100m to save him. |
| In August Reuters profiled Yukawa after he featured in another Isis video following his capture. Suffering a series of misfortunes in his personal life, including his wife’s death from cancer, and losing his business and home to bankruptcy, the news organisation reported that Yukawa had travelled to the Syrian city of Aleppo in spring 2014 in an attempt to reforge his identity after a breakdown. | In August Reuters profiled Yukawa after he featured in another Isis video following his capture. Suffering a series of misfortunes in his personal life, including his wife’s death from cancer, and losing his business and home to bankruptcy, the news organisation reported that Yukawa had travelled to the Syrian city of Aleppo in spring 2014 in an attempt to reforge his identity after a breakdown. |
| Goto is understood to be a respected freelance journalist who went to report on Syria’s civil war last year and knew of Yukawa’s detention before his own incarceration. | Goto is understood to be a respected freelance journalist who went to report on Syria’s civil war last year and knew of Yukawa’s detention before his own incarceration. |
| The Guardian has so far been unable to verify the identity of the captives shown on screen. | The Guardian has so far been unable to verify the identity of the captives shown on screen. |
| The Japanese chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, declined to say whether Japan would pay the ransom. | The Japanese chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, declined to say whether Japan would pay the ransom. |
| “If true, the act of threat in exchange of people’s lives is unforgivable and we feel strong indignation,” Suga told journalists in Tokyo. “We will make our utmost effort to win their release as soon as possible.” | “If true, the act of threat in exchange of people’s lives is unforgivable and we feel strong indignation,” Suga told journalists in Tokyo. “We will make our utmost effort to win their release as soon as possible.” |
| Speaking in Jerusalem, Abe described the threat to kill the two hostages in 72 hours as unforgivable and demanded Isis immediately release Goto and Yukawa. | Speaking in Jerusalem, Abe described the threat to kill the two hostages in 72 hours as unforgivable and demanded Isis immediately release Goto and Yukawa. |
| Last week, at the beginning of his tour of the Middle East, the prime minister announced Japan would be donating $200m in non-military aid to countries fighting Islamic State in order to help build “human capacities” and “infrastructure”, part of $2.5bn in humanitarian and development aid for the Middle East. | Last week, at the beginning of his tour of the Middle East, the prime minister announced Japan would be donating $200m in non-military aid to countries fighting Islamic State in order to help build “human capacities” and “infrastructure”, part of $2.5bn in humanitarian and development aid for the Middle East. |
| “It goes without saying that the stability of the Middle East is the foundation for peace and prosperity for the world, and of course for Japan,” Abe said last week. “Should we leave terrorism or weapons of mass destruction to spread in this region, the loss imparted upon the international community would be immeasurable.” | “It goes without saying that the stability of the Middle East is the foundation for peace and prosperity for the world, and of course for Japan,” Abe said last week. “Should we leave terrorism or weapons of mass destruction to spread in this region, the loss imparted upon the international community would be immeasurable.” |
| Released on Tuesday, the video carries the logo of Al Furqan media, the Islamic State propaganda organisation linked with every other beheading video featuring the alleged British militant. | Released on Tuesday, the video carries the logo of Al Furqan media, the Islamic State propaganda organisation linked with every other beheading video featuring the alleged British militant. |