Japan in shock as IS video claims hostage is dead

A still from a video allegedly by the Islamic State showing Japanese hostages Kenji Goto, left, and Haruna Yukawa. Picture: Getty

With attention focused on efforts to save the other hostage, some also criticised prime minister Shinzo Abe’s drive for a more assertive Japan as responsible for the hostage crisis.

A somber Mr Abe had appeared on television demanding the militants release 47-year-old journalist Kenji Goto unharmed.

He said the video was probably authentic, although he added that the government was still reviewing it.

He offered condolences to the family and friends of Haruna Yukawa, a 42-year-old adventurer taken hostage in Syria last year.

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Mr Abe declined to comment on the message in the video, which demanded a prisoner exchange for Mr Goto. He said only that the government was still working on the situation and reiterated that Japan condemns terrorism.

“I am left speechless,” he said. “We strongly and totally criticise such acts.”

Mr Yukawa’s father, Shoichi, told reporters he hoped “deep in his heart” that the news of his son’s killing was not true.

“If I am ever reunited with him, I just want to give him a big hug,” he said.

US president Barack Obama condemned what he called “the brutal murder” of Mr Yukawa and offered condolences to Mr Abe. Mr Obama’s statement did not say how the US knew Mr Yukawa was dead.

“The US intelligence community has no reason to doubt the authenticity of the video,” said a spokesman for the US director of national intelligence.

Mr Obama said the US will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Japan and called for the immediate release of Mr Goto.

French president François Hollande said he condemned the killing and praised Japan’s “determined engagement in the fight against international terrorism”.

Criticism of Mr Abe has touched on his push for an expanded role for Japan’s troops – one that has remained strictly confined to self-defence under the pacifist constitution written after the nation’s defeat in the Second World War.

About 100 protesters, some of them holding placards that read, “I’m Kenji” and “Free Goto,” demonstrated yesterday evening in front of the prime minister’s residence, demanding Mr Abe save Mr Goto.

Demonstrator Kenji Kunitomi, 66, blamed Mr Abe for the hostage crisis.

“This happened when prime minister Abe was visiting Israel,” he said.

“I think there’s a side to this, where they may have taken it as a form of provocation, possibly a big one.”

While in the Middle East, Mr Abe announced $200 million (£133m) in humanitarian aid to the nations fighting the militants.

The IS group addressed Mr Abe and demanded the same amount of money as ransom for the two hostages.