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IS claims killing of Japan hostage

January 24, 2015

Japan has condemned a video showing what appears to be the killing of one of two Japanese hostages held by the 'Islamic State.' A ransom deadline for the pair had passed.

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Shinzo Abe Statement Presse
Image: Reuters/Kyodo

The Japanese government expressed its anger at the video, which appeared to show the killing of 42-year-old captive Haruna Yukawa. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured above) demanded the release of the other captive, 47-year-old Kenji Goto.

"It's outrageous," Abe told reporters."It's an unforgivable act of violence. We demand the immediate release of Kenji Goto."

"I have a strong sense of anger. We will not give in to terrorism," Abe said, adding that the government would spare no effort in securing Goto's release.

On Tuesday, the Islamic State group threatened to behead the pair unless they were paid a $200 million (178 million euros) ransom within 72 hours. The Japanese government interpreted that deadline as ending on 2:50 p.m. (0550 UTC) on Friday.

The video is believed to consist of a still photo of Goto, and another photo of the allegedly headless body of Yakawa. Goto allegedly pleads for his life, saying the radical group would release him in exchange for Sajida al-Rishawa, a jihadist jailed in Jordan for a failed 2005 suicide bombing.

Goto is a freelance journalist, while Yakawa worked for a private security firm.

The jihadist group, which currently controls large areas in Iraq and Syria, has murdered five Western hostages since August last year. It is the first time Japanese captives have been threatened.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cut short a trip to the Middle East earlier this week to deal with the crisis.

jr/sb (Reuters, dpa)