Philippine Militants Record Beheading of German Man

Militants in the Philippines have reportedly released footage of a German man’s beheading. The video, of Abu Sayyaf extremists, follows a threat by the group that they would kill Jurgen Gustav Kantner after a ransom deadline lapsed on Sunday. Kantner was kidnapped while sailing, Philippine officials said in November. In the video, Kantner says “Now he kill me,” and then a masked man beheads him. Afterward, the men say “Allahu Akbar.” Germany’s foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer could not confirm the video's authenticity but called it “deeply shocking” and said officials were looking into it. He added, “It makes you question what can lead people to commit such a barbaric crime.”