Jordan looks into new IS audio clip

Jordan Armed Forces said Thursday it was looking into a new audio clip by the Islamic State (IS) in which it threatened to kill a captured Jordanian pilot.

Late Wednesday, the IS released an audio clip, purportedly from Japanese hostage Kenji Goto who is being held by the IS, asking Jordan to bring the female suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, to the Turkish border by sunset Thursday Mosul time, or the pilot, 1st Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh, will be killed.

In the audio clip, the IS said if Sajida is handed over, the Japanese hostage will be released.

In its statement, the Jordanian army said the priority is the safety of the pilot, who was captured by the IS late last year after his plane crashed in Raqqah in Syria.

Jordanian authorities said they were willing to hand over the Iraqi suicide bomber if the Jordanian pilot is released and demanded a proof that he is still alive.

Sajida al-Rishawi was convicted for her role in a series of bombings in the Jordanian capital of Amman in 2005 which killed around 60 people. The suicide bomber was captured and imprisoned as her suicide vest failed to detonate. Endit