BEIRUT — The Islamic State group released a message late Wednesday purportedly by Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, extending the deadline for Jordan’s release of an Iraqi would-be hotel bomber linked to al-Qaeda.
The audio was released as Jordan had offered a precedent-setting prisoner swap to the Islamic State group in an attempt to save a Jordanian air force pilot whom the militants purportedly threatened to kill, along with Goto.
The audio recording, in English, says the Jordanians must present Sajida al-Rishawi at the Turkish border by sunset Thursday, or Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaseabeh will be killed.
The Associated Press could not independently verify the contents of the recording, which was distributed on Twitter by Islamic State-affiliated accounts.
On Wednesday, the pilot’s father met with Jordan’s king, who he said assured him that “everything will be fine.”
King Abdullah II faces growing domestic pressure to bring the pilot home. However, meeting the Islamic State’s demand for the release of a would-be hotel bomber would run counter to the kingdom’s hardline approach to the extremists.
Efforts to release al-Kaseasbeh and Goto gained urgency with the release Tuesday of a purported online ultimatum claiming the Islamic State group would kill both hostages within 24 hours if the al-Qaeda-linked prisoner was not freed.
Any exchange would set a precedent for negotiating with Islamic State militants, who in the past have not publicly demanded prisoner releases. The United States opposes negotiations with extremists.
