Islamic State Releases Second Hostage Beheading Video: Report

Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists leaked a video on Saturday allegedly showing Japanese journalist Kenji Goto being beheaded, according to a Reuters report. The video shows Goto, 47, clad in an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by previous hostages held by the Al-Qaeda-linked organization. NPR reports that the video was relayed by SITE, an intelligence group, but has yet to be verified by the government.

Goto was a well-respected freelance videographer and journalist. According to the BBC, he had traveled to Syria in the fall to attempt to help gain the release of Haruna Yukawa, a Japanese man who was beheaded by the same group less than a week ago. Goto’s mother had been exchanging emails with ISIS seeking the release of her son.

The ISIS member speaking in the video seems to bear the same distinctive British accent as the speaker in the terrorist group’s previous beheading videos, although Reuters notes that the scrublands in this video look different than the usual desert backdrops. In the video, the militant reportedly addresses the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, saying: "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.”

The news organization has not yet verified the video, nor have the White House or the Japanese government, reports Japanese broadcast media organization NHK.

Bernadette Meehan, a National Security Council spokeswoman, said that the White House has “seen the video purporting to show that Japanese citizen Kenji Goto has been murdered” by ISIS, according to BBC. She went on to say that the United States “strongly condemns” the actions and called for the release of remaining ISIS hostages such as Moaz al-Kasasbeh, a Jordanian pilot.

On Tuesday, ISIS released a video warning that Goto had less than a day to live and Kasasbeh had “even less” time. Japan had been collaborating with Jordan to ensure the safe return of Kasasbeh and Goto.

The terrorists, who had asked for $200 million ransom for the return of both Japanese captives, had attempted to reach a deal on Wednesday: they would swap Goto for Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi militant currently held by Jordan for a 2005 bombing that killed 57 people. BBC speculates that when Jordan demanded that Kasasbeh be freed simultaneously, the deal may have soured. The Japan Times reports that the conversations between ISIS and the respective governments to free the hostages had been "deadlocked" earlier on Saturday.