CAIRO, Aug. 12 (UPI) — The Islamic State claims it beheaded a Croatian captive, its first such execution of a Western hostage in Egypt.
Although Croatian or Egyptian authorities have not confirmed his death, Tomislav Salopek, 31, is believed to be the victim in a video circulated Wednesday on social media by IS supporters. He was kidnapped in Cairo on July 22 and was seen in another IS video last week. Sinai Province, an IS affiliate set a 48-hour deadline last week, claiming Salopek would be executed if Egyptian President Abdel al-Sisi failed to release a number of female Muslim prisoners.
Salopek is employed by the French geographical services company CGG, Croatia has only played a minor role in combatting IS, providing weapons to Kurdish troops in Iraq.
In the execution video, the kneeling man believed to be Salopek identifies himself as he reads from a paper while a masked man in camouflage stands behind him with a knife.
The incident comes after a March announcement that Egypt would attempt to accelerate its economy with billions of dollars in energy investments, an indication that foreign firms will be hired and additional foreign workers will work in Egypt. A recent increase in militant attacks prompted diplomats and Western business owners in Egypt to voice concern over the country’s security situation. Sisi, speaking last week at the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal extension, promised to defeat militant groups in Egypt.
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