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Islamic State threatens to kill two Japanese hostages, demands ransom from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Islamic State threatens to kill two Japanese hostages, demands ransom from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
(about 4 hours later)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly cut short a trip to the Middle East after a militant in a purported Islamic State video threatened to kill two Japanese hostages unless the extremist group receives a $200 million ransom within the next 72 hours. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shifted his Middle East visit into crisis mode Tuesday after the Islamic State threatened to kill two Japanese hostages unless the extremist group receives a $200 million ransom within the next 72 hours.
The video, posted on militants’ Web sites, reportedly shows an Islamic State fighter wielding a knife, standing between two hostages wearing orange jumpsuits whom the militants identify as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa, according to the Associated Press. The video, posted on militants’ Web sites Tuesday, shows an apparent Islamic State fighter wielding a knife and standing between two hostages wearing orange jumpsuits, whom the militants identify as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa.
“You now have 72 hours to pressure your government into making a wise decision by paying the $200 million to save the lives of your citizens,” he told the camera. Goto is a journalist missing since October. Yukawa, who was last seen in August, appears to have been drawn to Syria in attempts to reinvent himself as a military consultant.
The militant addresses Abe, who has been on a week-long trip with other government officials, demanding cash as compensation for the country’s part in countering the Islamic State. Abe had pledged $200 million in non-military assistance to countries fighting the group. “You now have 72 hours to pressure your government into making a wise decision by paying the $200 million to save the lives of your citizens,” the masked militant told the camera.
“To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,000 and 500 kilometers [5,280 miles] from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade,” he said. “You have proudly donated $100 million to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims.” The video came as Abe was wrapping up a nearly week-long visit to the Middle East, which included pledges to work with Israel on counterterrorism efforts. Hours after the video was posted, Abe canceled several meetings — but kept talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his agenda — and dispatched a senior envoy to Jordan, whose intelligence services keep close watch on the Islamic State.
Abe responded, demanding the group immediately release the hostages. Japan is not taking part in the U.S.-led international military coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But Abe last week pledged $2.5 billion in humanitarian and development aid for countries in the region opposing the Islamic States. Abe also offered $200 million in non-military assistance to countries fighting the group.
“It is unforgivable and I feel strong resentment,” he said from Jerusalem. The video widened the reach of the Islamic State’s hostage-taking to a nation normally on the fringe of  Middle Eastern affairs. It also suggested a shift in tactics by the group to openly set a price for the freedom of captives rather than previous behind-the-scenes ransom demands.
A senior Japanese diplomat who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the subject said Yogo, a well-respected Japanese journalist, was last heard from on Oct. 24. He had told friends he was traveling to Kobane, a flashpoint town on the Turkish-Syrian border, but it is unclear exactly where he was kidnapped, the diplomat said. Yogo had been reporting on Syria’s civil war. “It is unforgivable,” said Abe, who is scheduled to return to Tokyo on Wednesday after a six-day visit to the Middle East with more than 100 government officials and presidents of Japanese companies. He added: “Extremism and Islam are completely different things.”
The militant in the video — speaking English with a British accent — addressed Abe directly, demanding cash as compensation for the country’s part in countering the Islamic State.
“To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,500 kilometers [5,280 miles] from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade,” he said. “You have proudly donated $100 million to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims.”
Other militant groups, including al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, have set ransom prices for hostages in the past. But most previous Islamic State videos focused primarily on the Western-led military intervention in the region and the group’s self-proclaimed goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to say whether Japan would consider paying the ransom.
“If true, the act of threat in exchange of people’s lives is unforgivable, and we feel strong indignation,” Suga told journalists. “We will make our utmost effort to win their release as soon as possible.”
A senior Japanese diplomat, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the subject, said Goto, a well-respected Japanese journalist, was last heard from on Oct. 24. He had told friends he was traveling to Kobane, a flashpoint town on the Turkish-Syrian border, but it is unclear exactly where he was kidnapped.
“I’m in Syria for reporting,” he told the AP in an e-mail late last year. “I hope I can convey the atmosphere from where I am and share it.”“I’m in Syria for reporting,” he told the AP in an e-mail late last year. “I hope I can convey the atmosphere from where I am and share it.”
Yukawa, went missing in August. Yukawa went missing in August.
“We don’t know what he does exactly,” the diplomat said. “He says he runs a private military company, but we don’t have these kinds of companies in Japan. We believe he is a military fanatic, but he doesn’t have any official military experience. He’s not a fighter.”“We don’t know what he does exactly,” the diplomat said. “He says he runs a private military company, but we don’t have these kinds of companies in Japan. We believe he is a military fanatic, but he doesn’t have any official military experience. He’s not a fighter.”
“Officially we don’t pay ransoms,” he added. “In some incidents in the past we might have paid but we’d never announce it. I don’t know what will happen now.” “Officially, we don’t pay ransoms,” he added. “In some incidents in the past we might have paid, but we’d never announce it. I don’t know what will happen now.”
When Yukawa was captured, he was in Syria, trying to find himself. In recent years, he lost his wife to lung cancer. He lost his business to a fragile economy. And he lost his home to bankruptcy, according to Newsweek.When Yukawa was captured, he was in Syria, trying to find himself. In recent years, he lost his wife to lung cancer. He lost his business to a fragile economy. And he lost his home to bankruptcy, according to Newsweek.
He changed his name to Haruna and attempted suicide. He believed he was “the reincarnation of a cross-dressing Manchu princess who had spied for Japan in World War Two,” Newsweek reported. He changed his name to Haruna and attempted suicide. He believed he was “the reincarnation of a cross-dressing Manchu princess” who had spied for Japan in World War II, Newsweek reported.
In 2013, Yukawa decided to become a security consultant, borrowed some cash and hopped a plane to Syria. He planned to provide consulting services to major Japanese companies in conflict zones. He would start there. “He felt his life had reached its limit,” his 74-year-old father, Shoichi Yukawa, told Newsweek.In 2013, Yukawa decided to become a security consultant, borrowed some cash and hopped a plane to Syria. He planned to provide consulting services to major Japanese companies in conflict zones. He would start there. “He felt his life had reached its limit,” his 74-year-old father, Shoichi Yukawa, told Newsweek.
In a blog post last summer, Yukawa talked about working with the Free Syrian Army.In a blog post last summer, Yukawa talked about working with the Free Syrian Army.
“I’m very happy and I too want to quickly meet up with them,” he said. “I want to devote the rest of my life to others and save many people. I want to make my mark on history one more time.”“I’m very happy and I too want to quickly meet up with them,” he said. “I want to devote the rest of my life to others and save many people. I want to make my mark on history one more time.”
In the purported Islamic State video, the men kneel as a militant stands between them.In the purported Islamic State video, the men kneel as a militant stands between them.
A militant with a British accent has also spoken in beheading videos with slain American hostages James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning. This is the first time the group has targeted the Japanese.A militant with a British accent has also spoken in beheading videos with slain American hostages James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning. This is the first time the group has targeted the Japanese.
The Japanese government told Agence France-Presse it is checking into the threat. The government official Suga said the threats will not alter Japanese policies, according to the Japan Times.
“We are aware of the reports,” an unnamed official in the Foreign Ministry’s terrorism prevention division told the news agency. “We are in discussions on the matter.”
But Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the country will not cave, according to the Japan Times.
“Our country’s stance — contributing to the fight against terrorism without giving in — remains unchanged,” he said.“Our country’s stance — contributing to the fight against terrorism without giving in — remains unchanged,” he said.
Although Japan is rarely drawn directly into Middle East conflicts, some Japanese have been taken hostage by the Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. In 2004, followers of Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq beheaded a Japanese backpacker, Shosei Koda, in apparent reprisal for Japanese soldiers assigned to humanitarian work in Iraq. Zarqawi’s faction became the ideological core for the eventual Islamic State.
[This post has been updated.][This post has been updated.]