Japanese reporter nabbed hunting for ISIL hostage

Doug Stanglin | USA TODAY

One of two Japanese men being held by the Islamic State for a $200 million ransom is a freelance journalist abducted after going into Syria to search for the first hostage, the NHK Japanese TV network reported.

Reporter Kenji Goto, 47, recorded a statement before heading into Syria, according to his Syrian translator and guide, Alaaeddin Al-Zaeem, NHK reports.

"Because it very dangerous, whatever happens, I will not blame the people of Syria. I urge the Japanese people not to demand Syrians to take responsibility," Goto says. "But I will definitely come back alive."

The Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, has taken over large swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq. It posted a video online Tuesday threatening to kill the two hostages — Goto and Haruna Yukawa— within 72 hours if the ransom is not paid. It showed the pair, dressing in orange clothing, kneeling in front of a knife-brandishing, masked militant.

Islamic State threatens Japanese hostages in new video On the heels of Japan's pledge to donate $200 million in non-military aid to countries fighting ISIS, a new video posted online depicts an Islamic State terrorist threatening the lives of two Japanese hostages.

Al-Zaeem, 34, told NHK on Wednesday that he met Goto in late October and that the reporter was trying "to get some news or information" about Yukawa, the 42-year-old founder of a private security firm who disappeared in August.

Al-Zaeem said he had worked as a guide for Goto and that the journalist had asked "two or three times before" for help crossing the Turkish border into Syria. Zaeem also said Goto apparently knew Yukawa.

"I (told) him, 'Don't go, please. It's not safe for you,'" the guide said.

Returning to Tokyo from a six-day Middle East tour slightly ahead of schedule, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We are fighting against time, and we'll make an all-out effort and use every diplomatic route that we have developed to win the release of the two."

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Japan was trying to determine the authenticity of the video but would not give in to threats.

"We will not give in to terrorism and will continue contributing to the international community to fight against terrorism," he said, adding Abe had ordered him to place "top priority" on saving the hostages' lives.

Amateur video of Japanese journalist held by Islamic State Amateur video of journalist Kenji Goto, one of two Japanese held for ransom by Islamic State, shows the reporter filming in Syria. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Video provided by Reuters

Japanese media, citing unnamed officials, reported Wednesday that Goto's wife received an e-mail in December demanding a ransom of more than 2 billion yen ($17 million).

She exchanged several e-mails with the unknown person, whose address was similar to one used by the Islamic State, the Kyodo News service and other media outlets reported. The messages did not include a threat to kill Goto.

The militant group has carried out threats to kill foreign captives, posting videos showing the beheading of American hostages James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning.

In past international hostage situations involving Japanese captives, at least one has been killed while most have been released. It is unclear how many times Japan has paid a ransom. The only confirmed case was in Kyrgyzstan in 1999.

Contributing: Associated Press