IS claims beheading of second Japanese captive

Beirut: The Islamic State group said in a video Saturday it had beheaded a second Japanese hostage, drawing outrage from Tokyo and condemnation from Washington.

The claim was made in a video released online that included no mention of a Jordanian pilot also being held by IS, whom the jihadist group has also threatened to kill.

Japanese journalist Kenji Goto is seen kneeling next to a standing masked man who speaks with a British accent and blames the Japanese government for his "slaughter".

The man, dressed head-to-toe in black with his face covered, appears to be the same IS militant who has featured in the group´s previous execution videos.

Goto is dressed in an orange outfit similar to those worn by prisoners at the US-run prison in Guantanamo Bay, also in keeping with hostages in previous IS videos.

The executioner, who is standing against a mountainous background, addresses Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying the murder of Goto would mark the beginning of "the nightmare for Japan".

Goto´s killing, he said, was the result of "reckless" decisions by the Japanese government.

The brief video ends with the image of a body dressed in orange with a decapitated head on top of it.

In Tokyo, a government spokesman said Japan was "extremely outraged" at the "heinous and despicable terrorist act."

And in Washington, National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said the United States strongly condemned the execution and was working to confirm the video´s authenticity. (AFP)