U.S. intel community working to verify reports of Japanese hostage's killing
ZURICH, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence community is working to verify a recording that purports to announce the execution of a Japanese citizen held by Islamic State militants, a senior U.S. official said on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the audio message, which if confirmed would be the first time the group, which has beheaded several foreign hostages, has issued an audio message rather than a video showing the actual event.
(Reporting by Warren Strobel; Editing by Eric Beech)
