Algerian jihadists have killed the French tourist they abducted on Sunday, the Guardian reports.
The group, which claim ties to ISIS and calls itself Soldiers of the Caliphate, captured the 55-year-old mountain guide, Hervé Gourdel, and threatened to kill him unless France withdrew from the coalition combating ISIS.
France began airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq last week, but currently has no plans to extend the campaign into Syria, according to CNN.
Gourdel had only been in Algeria for a few days before he was captured, and lived in Nice in the south of France. (RELATED: ISIS Beheads American Journalist On Camera)
In a video released by the terrorists on Monday, Gourdel sat between his captors, both masked and armed, and said “This armed group has asked me to demand that you do not intervene in Iraq. They are holding me hostage. I beg you, Monsieur Président, to do all in your power to get me out of here.”
“France isn’t afraid [of ISIS], because it’s not the first time we’ve been threatened,” said France’s Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, “and we are prepared to respond to their threats. Even if there is no such thing as a zero risk, we’re taking 100% precautions. The government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens. This threat to kill civilians, added to the execution of hostages and to the massacres, is yet another demonstration of the barbarity of these terrorists, justifying our fight without truce or pause.”
Just two days later, Gourdel is dead. (RELATED: ISIS Beheads American Journalist Steven Sotloff)
“Today a war was declared on France,” said Christian Estrosi, mayor of Gourdel’s town, upon hearing about his death. “We’ve been turning a blind eye to what’s happening in our back yards. And this is where it has led us.” (RELATED: ISIS Beheads British Aid Worker David Haines)
Hours before the group captured Gourdel, ISIS released a statement calling on Muslims throughout the world to kill citizens from any country fighting them in Iraq and Syria. “If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French,” their spokesman said. “Or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State … kill him in any manner or way however it may be.” (RELATED: ISIS, Looking To Boost Popularity After Atrocities, Repeals Smoking Ban)