MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - Philippine militants from the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have threatened to kill two German captives held since April should Germany continue to support US-led operations targeting Islamic State (IS) militants, a statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group Wednesday said.
"A message attributed to the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group threatened that two German hostages will be killed unless it is paid a ransom and Germany stops its support to the United States against Islamic State (IS)," SITE reported.
Security officials claimed that in addition to the violent militant group's threats it has demanded a ransom of $5.6 million in exchange for the captives' release, but the information still needs verification.
The ASG issued the threat via Twitter writing that they would, "kill one of the two hostages" if their demands were not met within 15 days.
A Philippine military intelligence source claimed the threats would probably not be carried out since ASG is known for being predominantly "interested in getting money." The source predicts the group will settle for a lower ransom.
The two German hostages, doctor Stefan Viktor Okonek and his companion Henrite Dielen were abducted from a yacht between Malaysian Borneo and the southern Philippines in April. The Islamist militants are holding some 10 hostages in the Sulu jungle in addition to the German captives including nationals from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan as well as some Filipinos.
Abu Sayyaf rose to prominence in the early 2000s and is known for kidnapping foreigners for ransom. In 2001, Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded an American, kidnapped from an island resort in Palawan province, in the southern island province of Basilan.
The United States and its Arab allies bombed IS targets in Syria on Tuesday as part of its operation against the Sunni group. Germany has refused to participate in the air strikes, but did send weapons to Kurdish fighters battling the militants in northern Iraq.
