Unless ransom is paid, Islamic State threatens to kill Japanese hostages

Islamic State extremists threaten to kill two Japanese hostages unless the $200 million ransom is fulfilled within 72 hours. (Screenshot from released IS video)

CAIRO – An online video allegedly shows the Islamic State group is threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless it is paid a $200 million ransom within 72 hours.

The video was released online Tuesday. Militant websites affiliated with the Islamic State group posted it.

The video shows two hostages the militants identify as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa.

According to NHK, Goto is a freelance journalist, who was planning to return to Japan in October 2014 and who has not been heard from since.

Japanese officials had no immediate comment on the video.

This is the first time the Islamic State group has threatened any Japanese. It has beheaded other Western hostages it has held.

The Islamic State group currently holds about a third of both Iraq and Syria. A U.S.-led coalition is now targeting the extremists in airstrikes.