Philippine Militants Release Video Of German’s Beheading

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Abu Sayyaf extremists in the Philippines released a video showing the beheading of a German hostage in the first sign the brutal Philippine militants carried out a threat to kill him after a ransom deadline lapsed over the weekend. Authorities were trying to confirm whether or not Jurgen Gustav Kantner, whom the extremists said they captured in November, had been killed. The brief video circulated Monday by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites, shows Jurgen Gustav Kantner sitting in a grassy clearing and saying “Now he kill me” shortly before a masked militant beheads him with a curved knife. A few gunmen mutter “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great,” in the video that lasts a minute and 43 seconds. The militants threatened to kill him midafternoon Sunday if a ransom of 30 million pesos ($605,000) was not paid, Philippine officials said. The Philippine military said it would not confirm Kantner’s death unless it sees the captive’s remains or other compelling evidence.