A picture and audio posted online Saturday purport to show that one of ISIS’s two Japanese hostages has been killed after a deadline for ransom passed, and appears to relay ISIS’s new demand for the other’s freedom — a prisoner exchange
The static image, posted by a known ISIS supporter, shows what appears to be surviving Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, alone, in handcuffs and dressed in orange, holding a photo of what appears to be beheaded compatriot Haruna Yukawa.
Saturday’s posting came four days after an ISIS video demanded that the Japanese government pay $200 million within 72 hours for the hostages’ release.
CNN cannot independently verify the post. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Saturday that the government is checking the authenticity of the claim.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe acknowledged the post Saturday.
“It was outrageous, unforgivable violence,” Abe said, adding that he demands Goto be released immediately.
Over Saturday’s post, a man’s voice claiming to be Goto’s says in English that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to blame for Yukawa’s death.
“You were given a deadline, so my captives acted upon their words,” he says.
The voice then relays ISIS’ new demand — the release of Sajida Rishawi, a woman arrested in Jordan in 2005 on suspicion of planning to take part terror attacks.
“They no longer want money, so you don’t need to worry about funding terrorists,” the voice says. “They just demand the release of their imprisoned sister Sajida Rishawi.
“It is simple. You give them Sajida, and I will be released. … Again, I would like to stress how easy it is to save my life. You bring them their sister from the Jordanian regime, and I will be released immediately — me for her.”
