A part of the Islamic State group – this one based in Algeria – has threatened to kill a French national that they have hostage. They are demanding that France stop its military operation against IS.

The hostage has been identified as 55-year old Herve Gourdel, with the French government saying the video is legit.

“The threats made by this terrorist group show once again the extreme cruelty of Daech (Islamic State) and those who say they are affiliated to it.”

Mr Gourdel was on holiday when he was kidnapped from the Tizi Ouzou area.

Jund al-Khilafah, the group that has kidnapped the Frenchman, is possibly a part of al Qaeda that has broken away and pledged allegiance to IS.

The hostage is seen in the video pleading with French President Francois Hollande, asking him to withdraw involvement in Iraq. France opened air strikes on IS on Friday.

“They are holding me as a hostage and I ask you Mr President to do everything to get me out of this bad situation and I thank you.”

IS has called on its followers to kill Europeans and Americans, and “especially the spiteful and filthy French”.

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