Abu Sayyaf Group Releases Video Threatening To Behead German Hostage Jurgen Kantner If Germany Fails To Pay Ransom

The Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf militant group released a video threatening to behead a German hostage if Germany does not pay a $10 million ransom, SITE Intelligence Group reported Wednesday. Jurgen Kantner was captured last November along with his companion, who was shot dead after she tried to escape.

"We are giving you an ultimatum to fulfill our demands. Failure to pay the ransom will cause the beheading of this German citizen," one of the three masked kidnappers dressed in black reportedly said in the video, which was released late Wednesday night. "To the German government, it seems that you are not paying attention to our demands because of your arrogance. Have you not learnt anything?"

The militant group captured 70-year-old Kantner from Malaysian waters, near Sabah state close to southern Philippines. The two were taken at gunpoint from a yacht. Kantner’s deceased companion was identified as Sabine Merz.

Abu Sayyaf has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Last year, the Philippine militant group beheaded two Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall after the Canadian government refused to pay the ransom. Currently, it has hostages from the Netherlands, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea.

The militant group is known for extortion, kidnappings, beheadings and bombings and was formed in the early 1990s in Basilan province, about 100 miles northeast of Sulu.

Abu Sayyaf is also known to have made millions of dollars from holding foreigners captive. In the first half of 2016, the group reportedly made $7.3 million from kidnappings and abductions. The U.S. government has warned tourists traveling to remote places and popular attractions of the risk of kidnapping in the central Philippines.