Islamic State beheads Croatian hostage after demand for release of Muslim women in Egyptian jails not granted

Tomislav Salopek, a 30-year-old Croatian who worked in Egypt and was kidnapped from Cairo July 22, was brutally beheaded by ISIS. Supporters of the terrorist group shared a photo of Salopek's dead body on Twitter. Salopek is the first one to be killed by beheading in Egypt since the extremists set up a branch in the area.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - In the footage, Salopek is featured wearing a yellow jumpsuit, kneeling in front of a masked man, wearing military fatigues and holding a knife. Salopek read a note and introduced himself as, "My name is Tomislav Salopek. I am 30-years-old and I am coming from Croatia. I am married and I have two children. They want to substitute me with the Muslim women arrested in Egyptian prisons. This matter have to be achieved before 48 hours from now, if not, the soldiers of Wilyat Sina will kill me."

Salopek, an oil and gas sector surveyor, was held captive by the ISIS in Sinai province after being kidnapped in Cairo.

The ISIS supporters assume the Islamic State's Egyptian affiliate will soon release a video of Salopek's beheading. However, ISIS currently hasn't released any video footage of the beheading yet. Salopek's death occured after ISIS previously killed foreign aid workers and journalists in Syria, including two Britans, Alan Henning and David Haines.

Following Salopek's photo release, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond stated that Britain would stand by Egypt and Croatia in opposing "this human brand of terrorism." Hammond condemns the murder of Salopek.

"If these reports are true, I condemn in the strongest terms the apparent brutal killing of Croatian national Tomislav Salopek by ISIS in Egypt. My thoughts and condolences are with his family, colleagues, and all the Croatian people. Britain will stand by Egypt and Croatia as we continue to oppose this inhuman brand of terrorism," stated Hammond.

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