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Isis Japanese hostages: Video purports to show Haruna Yukawa executed and second hostage Kenji Goto with new terms for release | Isis Japanese hostages: Video purports to show Haruna Yukawa executed and second hostage Kenji Goto with new terms for release |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has confirmed that a video showing the killing of one of two of its citizens being held hostage by Islamic State (Isis) in Syria, is genuine. However, he had no comment on how to respond to the latest demand for a prisoner exchange. | |
The Japanese government earlier expressed “outrage” at the emergence of the video which claimed 42-year-old hostage Haruna Yukawa had been killed and showed the other, 47-year-old Kenji Goto, outlining new terms for his release. | |
“I have a strong sense of anger,” Mr Abe said after an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the crisis and determine the veracity of the video message. “We will not give in to terrorism,” he said. | |
The three-minute message differs from previous communications posted by the group. It shows a single, still image of Mr Goto holding a photograph of the body of Mr Yukawa. Audio of Mr Goto speaking in English is played, where he demands a prisoner exchange to save his own life. | |
David Cameron said: “The reported brutal murder of Haruna Yukawa and the further threats made by Isis are yet another reminder of the murderous barbarity of these terrorists. Britain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people at this difficult time and we will continue to offer the Japanese government all possible assistance.” | David Cameron said: “The reported brutal murder of Haruna Yukawa and the further threats made by Isis are yet another reminder of the murderous barbarity of these terrorists. Britain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people at this difficult time and we will continue to offer the Japanese government all possible assistance.” |
Last year, Isis released videos showing the murder in a desert location of British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning, as well as US citizens James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Abdul-Rahman Kassig. Mr Yukawa was seized by militants in August, after he went to Syria in what he described as a plan to launch a security company. Mr Goto, a veteran war correspondent, went too, apparently against advice, as he felt a responsibility for his friend Mr Yukawa. | Last year, Isis released videos showing the murder in a desert location of British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning, as well as US citizens James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Abdul-Rahman Kassig. Mr Yukawa was seized by militants in August, after he went to Syria in what he described as a plan to launch a security company. Mr Goto, a veteran war correspondent, went too, apparently against advice, as he felt a responsibility for his friend Mr Yukawa. |
Isis, which controls vast swathes of both Syria and Iraq, had threatened on Tuesday to kill both hostages within 72 hours unless it received a $200m (£133m) ransom, a demand that now seems to have been dropped. That deadline passed on Friday with no word on the two hostages from their captors. | Isis, which controls vast swathes of both Syria and Iraq, had threatened on Tuesday to kill both hostages within 72 hours unless it received a $200m (£133m) ransom, a demand that now seems to have been dropped. That deadline passed on Friday with no word on the two hostages from their captors. |
However, there initially seemed to be some confusion over the authenticity of the video, which appeared online and was then apparently deleted. One militant on a website affiliated with Isis said the message was a fake, while another said it was intended to go only to the Japanese journalist’s family. A third noted that the video was not issued by al-Furqan, which is one of the media arms of Isis and has issued past videos involving hostages and beheadings. | |
Before the release of the message, The Japan Times had claimed it had a source saying both hostages were still alive. This claim could also not be verified. | Before the release of the message, The Japan Times had claimed it had a source saying both hostages were still alive. This claim could also not be verified. |
Obtaining intelligence from Isis-held territories has proven difficult for Japan after its diplomats left Syria as the civil war there escalated. | Obtaining intelligence from Isis-held territories has proven difficult for Japan after its diplomats left Syria as the civil war there escalated. |
Patrick Ventrell, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said its intelligence officials were also working to confirm whether the new message was authentic. “We stand in solidarity with Japan and are co-ordinating closely,” he said. | Patrick Ventrell, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said its intelligence officials were also working to confirm whether the new message was authentic. “We stand in solidarity with Japan and are co-ordinating closely,” he said. |
The audio requested that Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi be released from a Jordanian prison. Al-Rishawi was convicted of taking part in a suicide bombing of the Jordanian capital Amman in 2005, along with her husband, which killed scores of people. Her suicide belt failed to go off. She has apparent connections, believed to be through her brother, to al-Qaeda in Iraq. | The audio requested that Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi be released from a Jordanian prison. Al-Rishawi was convicted of taking part in a suicide bombing of the Jordanian capital Amman in 2005, along with her husband, which killed scores of people. Her suicide belt failed to go off. She has apparent connections, believed to be through her brother, to al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
Japanese officials have not yet said if they will pay a ransom, but Mr Abe spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah yesterday about the hostage situation. | |
Mr Abe was said to have called the two hostages’ families. | Mr Abe was said to have called the two hostages’ families. |