Kenji Goto Beheading - Notorious terrorist group, ISIS has released a video Saturday night showing the decapitation of another Japanese hostage, who was seized in October. The hostage, identified as a 47-year-old freelance journalist, has been held in exchange for a $200 million ransom.
The beheading of Kenji Goto has ended the negotiations for the journalist's freedom. According to The Guardian, the Islamic State released a video entitled, "A Message to the Government of Japan," showed British accented "Jihadi John" and Goto, who wore an orange prison jumpsuit, in a one-minute-long video.
The Kenji Goto beheading video was relayed by SITE Intelligence Group. The video came a week after ISIS released an audio recording of Goto and a snapshot that showed him holding a picture of the lifeless body of Haruna Yukana, his fellow hostage who was also beheaded by the extremists.
Though the Japanese government conducted indirect negotiations as reported by NPR.org, the Islamic State terrorists still carried out the beheading.
"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 honor and power, thirsty for your blood," a man said on the video.
The man also gave a message to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"Abe, because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this man 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," Jihadi John said as quoted by The Guardian.
Before the alleged beheading of Kenji Goto, ISIS initially demanded a ransom of $200 million, which was the same amount of the Japanese government's pledge for the victims of violence in the Middle East. However, the demand changed to the release of Sajida al-Rishawi, a failed female suicide bomber who has been detained in Jordan since 2005.
Japanese government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga said their whole nation was "outraged" by the video. BBC News added the cabinet meeting to decide their response.
Meanwhile, the US National Security Council stated that they are currently working to confirm the authenticity of the Kenji Goto's beheading video.
"We have seen the video purporting to show that Japanese citizen Kenji Goto has been murdered by the terrorist group ISIL [IS]," US National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said. "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."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the video of Kenji Goto's beheading. He also sworn to work with other countries to persecute those responsible for the ruthless crimes.
"I feel strong indignation at this inhumane and contemptible act of terrorism," Abe said. "I will never forgive these terrorists. Japan will work with the international community to bring those responsible for this crime to justice."
