ISIS militants released a video purporting to show two Japanese hostages on Tuesday and demanded a $200-million ransom.
Global security firm and NBC News counterterrorism consultant Flashpoint Intelligence said the video appeared to be authentic. It shows two handcuffed men in orange jumpsuits similar to those worn by Guantanamo Bay detainees kneeling next to a masked jihadi who brandishes a knife.
The militant said the pair would be killed unless $200 million is paid within 72 hours.
A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said: "We are aware of the report. At present there is nothing we can say."
ISIS has made good in the past on its promises to execute captives. On Nov. 16, it released video showing that it had killed American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig after beheading American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff earlier in the year.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
New ISIS Video Purportedly Shows Two Japanese Hostages
20 January 2015
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