01/24/2015

Islamic State released an audio video on Saturday showing Kenji Goto Jogo, one of two Japanese nationals taken hostage by the group, announcing that his fellow countryman Haruna Yukawa had executed, and holding a picture of Yukawa's beheaded body.

In the video, which is different than the previous Islamic State execution videos, freelance journalist Kenji Goto is heard saying that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is responsible for Yukawa's death.

Goto goes on to say that the Islamic State is no longer demanding a ransom of $200 million, but instead the release of Sajida al-Rishawi, imprisoned in Jordan since 2005. al-Rishawi is an attempted suicide bomber who took part in the 2005 Amman bombings in Jordan but survived when her explosive belt failed to detonate.

Sajida al-Rishawi