MEP: A German man has been beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines after a deadline to pay his ransom passed, the Philippine government has said.
A video released on Monday, showing the hostage, 70-year-old Jurgen Kantner, in a jungle clearing with his hands tied behind him. He can be heard saying the words “Now he’ll kill me” before a man starts cutting Kantner’s head off with a large knife.
Shortly after the video appeared, the Philippine government envoy Jesus Dureza confirmed the German’s death.
“We grieve as we strongly condemn the barbaric beheading of yet another kidnap victim,” Dureza said in a statement. “Up to the last moment, many sectors including the armed forces of the Philippines exhausted all efforts to save his life. We all tried our best. But to no avail.”
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A deadline for a 30m peso (£483,000; $600,000) ransom expired on Sunday.
It was the second time Kantner, 70, had been abducted. He was held along with his partner, Sabine Merz, by Somali pirates for nearly two months in 2008.
Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines, known for its brutality, including beheadings.
It has pledged allegiance to Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) terrorist group and has carried out kidnappings of foreigners and Filipinos. Some have been released for ransoms but a number are still being held.
