Reports: ISIL Video Claims 1 of 2 Japanese Hostages Beheaded

USA Today:

The Islamic State reportedly released a new video Saturday claiming one of the two Japanese captives had been beheaded and issuing new demands for the other hostage’s release.

In the video, Japanese freelance journalist Kenji Goto holds a photo that purportedly shows the dead body of the second hostage, Haruna Yukawa. SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S.-based organization that monitors extremist websites, said the video had been distributed across several Islamic State-linked Twitter accounts.

The Japanese government said it is seeking to verify the video, BBC reported. A government spokesman called the apparent execution of Yukawa “outrageous” and “unacceptable,” Reuters reported.

The video could not be independently verified. SITE has reported on several Islamic State videos in the past that proved authentic. Kyodo News agency reported the same video had been e-mailed to the wife of one of the hostages.

Patrick Ventrell, deputy spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, the intelligence community “is working to confirm its authenticity.”

He said the U.S. strongly condemns Islamic State for its actions and called for the release of all remaining hostages. “The United States is fully supportive of Japan in this matter,” he said. “We stand in solidarity with Japan and are coordinating closely.”