Japanese gov't condemns video purporting to show Goto beheaded

Japanese government on Sunday morning strongly condemned Islamic State (IS) militants after a new video posted on line showing a man purportedly to be Japanese hostage Kenji Goto beheaded, local media reported.

According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said following the release of the video, he was outraged by the IS militant group's alleged murder of Goto. "It is heartbreaking. I am outraged by the despicable terrorist act, and I will never forgive terrorists,"Abe said. "I cannot help feeling strong indignation that an inhuman and despicable act of terrorism like this has been committed again," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said."We resolutely condemn this."

On early Sunday morning, a new video was posted on-line purportedly showing beheading of Goto, a 47-year-old freelance journalist. In the video, a hooded man stood over Goto, holding a knife to his throat. The following footage showed a head placed on a human body.

However, the authenticity of the video and the fate of Goto cannot be verified at the moment. The Japanese government said it is confirming the authenticity of the video.