The Islamic State group claims it is holding a Norwegian man and a Chinese consultant hostage and has demanded ransom for their release.

The extremist group posted pictures of the two men wearing yellow prison outfits in the latest issue of its online magazine Dabiq.

View photos ISIS claim to be holding two hostages and demanding a ransom for their release. Photo: Supplied More

It identifies the Norwegian man as Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad, 48, from Oslo, and the Chinese man as Fan Jinghui, 50, a freelance consultant from Beijing.





The magazine lists a telegram number for "whoever would like to pay the ransom for his release and transfer."

It does not say when or where the two were captured.

What we know about the two hostages

Fan Jinghui

View photos Fan Jinghui worked in advertising and TV production and describes himself as a free spirit and reader of Greek philosophy. Photo: Supplied More

Fan Jinghui worked in advertising and TV production and describes himself as a free spirit and reader of Greek philosophy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said authorities are still verifying the identity of the Chinese hostage.

But the Sohu news portal reported that Fan was interviewed in 2001 by China National Radio as part of a feature about people without fixed careers.

View photos Advertising stamps surround the doorway of an apartment in Beijing linked to Fan Jinghui, 50 and the address of the apartment. Photo: AP/Mark Schiefelbein) More

Another man who appeared on the program, Pang Fei, told AP that he remembered being interviewed alongside Fan, and that he recognised him from the photo released by the Islamic State group.

"I love reading about the history of science," Fan said in the interview at the time.

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