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Isis 'kills Japanese hostage Kenji Goto': Government trying to verify video showing execution Isis 'kills Japanese hostage Kenji Goto': Government trying to verify video showing execution
(35 minutes later)
Islamic State (Isis) militants have released a video which appeared to show the murder of a journalist at the centre of hostage negotiations with the Japanese government. Islamic State (Isis) militants have released a video which appears to show the murder of a journalist at the centre of hostage negotiations with the Japanese government.
In the video Kenji Goto, 47, was shown kneeling in front of a masked man armed with a knife. The film was titled: A Message To The Japanese Government. With similarities to previous video messages showing the beheadings of Western captives in Syria, Kenji Goto, 47, was shown kneeling in front of a masked man armed with a knife, in a film which was titled: A Message To The Japanese Government.
Japan and the US said they were checking the authenticity of the film but Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said: “I cannot help feeling strong indignation that an inhuman and despicable act of terrorism like this has been committed again. We resolutely condemn this.”
Unlike past murders, however, the reported killing followed negotiations with Isis aimed at freeing Mr Goto, and the release of Jordanian pilot Muadh al-Kasasbeh.Unlike past murders, however, the reported killing followed negotiations with Isis aimed at freeing Mr Goto, and the release of Jordanian pilot Muadh al-Kasasbeh.
Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi in her apparant confession on Jordanian television in 2005  
Mr Goto, an experienced freelance reporter who went to Syria in October, had previously been forced to hold up a picture which appeared to show the aftermath of the beheading of another Japanese hostage, private security consultant Haruna Yukawa.Mr Goto, an experienced freelance reporter who went to Syria in October, had previously been forced to hold up a picture which appeared to show the aftermath of the beheading of another Japanese hostage, private security consultant Haruna Yukawa.
The group had initially asked for a $200 million ransom for the release of the two Japanese men. On Saturday evening, the Japanese authorities were investigating the film to check its authenticity.
After Isis reported that Mr Yukawa had been killed, however, the demands changed with a call for Jordan to release Sajida al-Rishawi, who has been held since 2005 in relation to bomb attacks on hotels in Amman. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “I will never forgive these terrorists. Japan will work with the international community to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.”
Jordan has itself been threatened with the murder of Mr Kasasbeh, captured when his plane crashed in Syria on Christmas Eve. In response, it has demanded proof he is still alive. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga added: “I cannot help feeling strong indignation that an inhuman and despicable act of terrorism like this has been committed again. We resolutely condemn this.”
He said that cabinet ministers would now meet to discuss the government’s response.
Isis had initially asked for a $200 million ransom for the release of the two Japanese men. Mr Yukawa was captured last summer near Aleppo and Mr Goto had reportedly travelled to the region to try and help secure his release.
Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi in her apparant confession on Jordanian television in 2005  
After Isis had reported that Mr Yukawa been killed this week, the demands changed with a call for Jordan to release Sajida al-Rishawi, who has been held since 2005 in relation to bomb attacks on hotels in Amman.
Jordan has itself been threatened with the murder of Lieutenant Kasasbeh. He was captured when his plane crashed in Syria on Christmas Eve. Jordan has demanded proof that he is still alive and there was no prisoner exchange at sunset on Thursday, as Isis had demanded. The group warned that Lt Kasasbeh would be killed if Rishawi was not brought out from custody.
By late on Friday, Japan’s deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama had warned that their negotiations were “in a state of deadlock”.
Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh, 26, was taken hostage when his plane crashed last week whilst undertaking US-led air strikes against Isis (EPA)Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh, 26, was taken hostage when his plane crashed last week whilst undertaking US-led air strikes against Isis (EPA)
Isis demanded Rishawi was brought to the Turkish border by last Thursday evening or Mr Kasasbeh would be killed. But no exchange occurred and late on Friday, Japan’s deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama warned negotiations were “in a state of deadlock”. While Isis delivered its ransom demands, Mr Goto’s family had publicly called for Mr Abe to negotiate.
After Isis’s ransom demands, his family publicly called for Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to negotiate. His mother Junko Ishido said in an appeal last week: “Kenji was always saying 'I hope to save lives of children on battlefields'. He was reporting war from a neutral position.” On social media, a  ‘I am Kenji’ campaign had developed in recent days, using the ‘Je Suis Charlie’ motif that internet users used to show solidarity after the gun killings at French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s Paris offices earlier this month.
In the most recent video, the Isis figure spoke with a British-sounding accent. Mr Goto did not speak in the one-minute long film. In the video released on Saturday, the apparent killer spoke with a British-sounding accent. Mr Goto did not speak in the one-minute long film.
Speaking to the camera, the masked man says: "To the Japanese government: You, like your foolish allies in the Satanic coalition, have yet to understand that we, by Allah's grace, are an Islamic Caliphate with authority and power, an entire army thirsty for your blood. The masked man blamed Mr Abe’s policies and warned that Japan was now a target, claiming that it was now “foolish allies in the Satanic coalition.”
"(Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo) Abe, because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin." While Japan has not sent military assistance to face Isis in Syria and Iraq, it pledged $200 million dollars in aid and to help train the local resistance.
Three Americans and two Britons have been killed in similar circumstances, although without public demands for ransoms of money or prisoner exchanges.Three Americans and two Britons have been killed in similar circumstances, although without public demands for ransoms of money or prisoner exchanges.
US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were beheaded, before British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were beheaded, before British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.
Abdul-Rahman Kassig, formerly known as Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, was also killed.Abdul-Rahman Kassig, formerly known as Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, was also killed.
On Saturday evening, White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said: “We have seen the video purporting to show that Japanese citizen Kenji Goto has been murdered by the terrorist group ISIL. We are working to confirm its authenticity. The United States strongly condemns ISIL's actions and we call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. We stand in solidarity with our ally Japan.”