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Japan’s prime minister condemns video said to show hostage killed by Islamic State Japan’s prime minister condemns video said to show hostage killed by Islamic State
(about 2 hours later)
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was “speechless” after a video uploaded Saturday appeared to show the decapitated body of Haruna Yukawa, one of two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State.TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was “speechless” after a video uploaded Saturday appeared to show the decapitated body of Haruna Yukawa, one of two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State.
The group also appears to have changed its demand, dropping its $200 million ransom requirement and instead seeking to swap the other hostage, Kenji Goto, for an Iraqi woman linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq who is imprisoned in Jordan.The group also appears to have changed its demand, dropping its $200 million ransom requirement and instead seeking to swap the other hostage, Kenji Goto, for an Iraqi woman linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq who is imprisoned in Jordan.
The video, which could not immediately be verified, featured a still image of Goto in an orange jumpsuit and with chained hands, holding a grisly composite photo showing Yukawa kneeling, then beheaded.The video, which could not immediately be verified, featured a still image of Goto in an orange jumpsuit and with chained hands, holding a grisly composite photo showing Yukawa kneeling, then beheaded.
In a voice-over in English, a man purporting to be Goto said Yukawa had been “slaughtered in the land of the Islamic caliphate.”In a voice-over in English, a man purporting to be Goto said Yukawa had been “slaughtered in the land of the Islamic caliphate.”
“You were warned. You were given a deadline and so my captors acted upon their words,” the man said. “Abe, you killed Haruna. You did not take the threat of my captors seriously. And you did not act within that 72 hours.” “You were warned. You were given a deadline, and so my captors acted upon their words,” the man said. “Abe, you killed Haruna. You did not take the threat of my captors seriously. And you did not act within that 72 hours.”
Japan’s Kyodo news agency said the video was also e-mailed to Goto's wife. Japan’s Kyodo news agency said the video was also e-mailed to Goto’s wife.
In a video released Tuesday, a black-clad jihadist demanded that a $200 million ransom be paid within three days to free the men. That deadline passed Friday, with the Japanese government frantically trying to reach the group holding the men while seeking the advice of countries whose citizens have been killed or released.In a video released Tuesday, a black-clad jihadist demanded that a $200 million ransom be paid within three days to free the men. That deadline passed Friday, with the Japanese government frantically trying to reach the group holding the men while seeking the advice of countries whose citizens have been killed or released.
Before Yukawa, five men — three Americans and two Britons — had been beheaded. But this incident differed in that a specific ransom was publicly demanded and the video did not show the execution, leading to questions about its authenticity.Before Yukawa, five men — three Americans and two Britons — had been beheaded. But this incident differed in that a specific ransom was publicly demanded and the video did not show the execution, leading to questions about its authenticity.
Noting that the video was made in a different style than the other beheading videos, it was an official Islamic State release, said Site Intelligence Group, which has been monitoring the videos. The Site Intelligence Group, which has been monitoring the videos, confirmed that Saturday’s video was an official Islamic State release despite having been made in a different style from other beheading videos.
In the early hours of Sunday morning Japan time, Abe said that Yukawa “seems to have been murdered.” Early Sunday, Abe said that Yukawa “seems to have been murdered.”
“Fully aware of unbearable pain and sorrow that his family must be feeling, I am simply left speechless,” Abe said in a statement. “Such an act of terrorism is outrageous and impermissible, which causes me nothing but strong indignation.Thus I express resolute condemnation.” “Fully aware of unbearable pain and sorrow that his family must be feeling, I am simply left speechless,” he said in a statement. “Such an act of terrorism is outrageous and impermissible, which causes me nothing but strong indignation. Thus I express resolute condemnation.”
From Washington, President Obama strongly condemned the “brutal murder” of Yukawa, renewing his call for the immediate release of Goto and other remaining hostages. From Washington, President Obama strongly condemned the “brutal murder” of Yukawa and renewed his call for the immediate release of Goto and other remaining hostages.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally Japan and applaud its commitment to peace and development in a region far from its shores,” Obama said. “We will work together to bring the perpetrators of these murders to justice and will continue to take decisive action to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. In the video released Saturday, the voice purported to be Goto’s said that the Islamic State was dropping its ransom demand and was instead seeking a prisoner exchange. “Their demand is easier. They are being fair. They no longer want money. So you do not need to worry about funding terrorists.They are just demanding the release of their imprisoned sister, Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi,” the voice said. “It is simple. You give them Sajida, and I will be released.” “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally Japan and applaud its commitment to peace and development in a region far from its shores,” Obama said. “We will work together to bring the perpetrators of these murders to justice and will continue to take decisive action to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
Rishawi, an Iraqi, is thought to have been involved in a suicide attack in Jordan on three Amman hotels in 2005, which killed 57 people. Her husband was killed but when she went to the Radisson hotel, Rishawi’s suicide belt failed to detonate. In the video released Saturday, the voice purported to be Goto’s said that the Islamic State was dropping its ransom demand and was instead seeking a prisoner exchange.
“Their demand is easier. They are being fair. They no longer want money. So you do not need to worry about funding terrorists. They are just demanding the release of their imprisoned sister, Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi,” the voice said. “It is simple. You give them Sajida, and I will be released.”
Rishawi, an Iraqi, is thought to have been involved in a suicide attack in Jordan on three Amman hotels in 2005, which killed 57 people. Her husband was killed, but when Rishawi went to the Radisson hotel, her suicide belt failed to detonate.
She is also believed to be the sister of a close aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the late leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to the Islamic State.She is also believed to be the sister of a close aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the late leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to the Islamic State.