ISIS threatens to kill 2 Japanese hostages in 3 days unless ransom paid
The Islamic State terrorist group (IS, formerly ISIS) said in a video it will execute two Japanese nationals unless a $200-million ransom is paid within 72 hours.
The video features two Asian men wearing orange fatigues standing on their knees and a masked man in black holding a knife, reading the demand. The hostages are Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa, according to the video.
The Islamic State has published several videos depicting executions of its Western hostages during its recent advances in Iraq and Syria.
Previously, however, the demands were political in nature, with financial ransom demands reportedly being negotiated out of the public eye.