ISIS & Japan agree on hostage swap - reports

Japan and ISIS are understood to have agreed on an exchange of journalist Kenji Goto, held hostage by the Islamist militants, for Sajida al-Rishawi, the Iraqi woman who killed 60 people in a 2005 Jordan bombing, Tass reported, citing Japan’s Fuji TV.

Previously the Islamic State released a video with a threat to kill a second Japanese hostage and a Jordanian pilot in the next 24 hours if the Japanese authorities fail to persuade Jordan to release failed suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi from prison.

The video uploaded on the web by the jihadist group is comprised of an audio message by Japanese hostage, Kenji Goto, and a picture of Goto, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, holding a portrait of a Jordanian military pilot, Muadh al-Kasasbeh.

“I’ve been told this is my last message,” Goto said as he began his address, adding that his life now depends on the government of Jordan, which is “delaying the handover of Sajida.”

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Credit : Reuters