Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the execution of Japanese self-employed contractor Haruna Yukawa by Islamic State militants. He said that he was ‘speechless” and demanded the release of second d hostage Kenji Goto, a well-known freelance journalist and filmmaker. He said that the execution was an “outrageous and unacceptable act of violence.

Japanese authorities are trying to verify the authenticity of the footage but believe that there is a high chance of credibility. In the footage, Mr. Goto appears to say that IS would release him in exchange for Iraqi female militant Sajida al-Rishawi being held in Jordan. In the footage, Mr. Goto blames the Japanese government for Mr. Yukawa’s death by stating that it was the result of Japan’s failure to pay a $200 mln ransom. In the video, Mr. Goto holds the body of Mr. Yukawa.

Japanese social media is abuzz with claims that the video is not authentic. Despite the fact that it has yet to be officially verified, US President Barack Obama said that the United States “strongly condemns the brutal murder” on Saturday.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement that the “reported brutal murder” is “yet another reminder of the murderous barbarity of these terrorists.”