ISIL claims killed Japanese hostage: Video

A video has been posted on You Tube showing Japanese freelance journalist Kenji Goto holding the photo of a dead body allegedly belonging to Haruna Yukawa, the second Japanese captive who was held by the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

In the footage which was later removed from You Tube, Goto says that ISIL wants him swapped for a female member of the terror group who is thought to be behind an attack on a hotel in Jordan in 2005.

The ISIL had given Japan’s government a 72-hour deadline to pay off a 200-million dollar ransom for releasing the captives.

The deadline ended on Friday. After the deadline expired, the militants posted an online warning, saying the “countdown has begun” for the group to kill the two Japanese hostages.

Outrageous terror act

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the alleged killing of Yukawa, dismissing it as an “outrageous and unforgivable” act of terror.

"Such an act of terrorism is outrageous and unforgivable. We feel strong indignation, and vehemently condemn the act," Abe said on Saturday following a late-night cabinet meeting to verify the authenticity of the video.

The premier later stated that the "credibility" of the video announcing the execution of the Japanese hostage was "high".

"We have been looking into its authenticity, but unfortunately at the moment we cannot help saying its credibility is high."

He also added that the Japanese government will not surrender to terrorism and will continue to cooperate with the international community to counter terrorism.

Moreover, US President Barack Obama denounced the reported killing of the Japanese citizen, the White House said in a statement.

"Our condolences today are with the people of Japan for their terrible loss," the statement noted, adding, "We renew our call for the immediate release of Kenji Goto and all other remaining hostages."

ISIL atrocities

The ISIL terrorists have beheaded at least five foreigners, including aid workers and journalists from the United States and Britain.

They use hostage-taking and demanding ransom money for the captives’ release as a technique to provide the financial resources needed to continue their heinous crimes.

The group received as much as USD 45 million in ransoms in the past year, a UN expert says.

Yotsna Lalji, a United Nations expert monitoring sanctions against al-Qaeda, warned during a meeting of the UN Security Council's counter-terrorism committee in November 2014 that kidnapping for ransom by ISIL and other terrorist groups continues to grow.

The ISIL extremists have been engaged in crimes against humanity in the areas under their in Iraq and Syria. They have terrorized and killed people of all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.

MSM/NN/AS

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