The Islamist terror group ISIS claims it has beheaded a Japanese journalist, a week after beheading another Japanese hostage and demanding the release of a would-be suicide bomber. NBC news Report
A video released Saturday claimed that reporter Kenji Goto was executed after a Thursday deadline for Jordan to release Sajida al-Rishawi was not met. Although NBC News has not yet verified the video, it appears consistent with other ISIS hostage videos, according to analysts SITE Intelligence.
SIS had threatened to execute reporter Kenji Goto and 1st Lt. Mu’ath al-Kasaesbeh if al-Rishawi was not freed within 24 hours. She was on death row in Jordan after her explosives failed to detonate during a 2005 attack on a hotel in Amman, Jordan.
Jordan demanded proof of life of the two captives, while Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama told reporters Saturday that the situation was “a stalemate.”
ISIS initially demanded a ransom of $200 million for the release of Goto and fellow Japanese captive Haruna Yukawa. Goto had apparently ventured into Syria to rescue Yukawa, who was taken hostage last summer. However, ISIS released a video on Jan. 24 claiming it had beheaded Yukawa and requesting al-Rishawi’s release instead.
ISIS later said they would also execute Jordanian pilot Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh if al-Rishawi, who is on death-row was not freed. Al-Kasaesbeh has been held by ISIS since his plane crashed in Syria in December. ISIS made no mention of the pilot in Saturday’s video.