A video released by the Islamic State claims to show the killing of Peter Kassig, a man who was held hostage by ISIS. Read more on the story below!
The video shows a masked man standing with a decapitated head saying, “This is Peter Edward Kassig, a U.S. citizen.” The White House claims that the footage is indeed authentic. President Obama spoke on the incident and said that the killing was an “act of pure evil.” Kassig was described by President Obama as a “humanitarian who worked to save the lives of Syrians injured and dispossessed by the Syrian conflict.”
Before the footage of Kassig’s killing was authenticated, his family stated that they wanted to wait for confirmation from the government. A statement his family released said, “The family respectfully asks that the news media avoid playing into the hostage takers’ hands and refrain from publishing or broadcasting photographs or video distributed by the hostage takers…we prefer our son is written about and remembered for his important work and the love he shared with friends and family, not in the manner the hostage takers would use to manipulate Americans and further their cause.” They go on to say ,”we are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling. We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can.” ISIS first threatened to kill Peter in early October. The group is believed to be holding many other people hostage.
