Sajida al-Rishawi is referred to as an “imprisoned sister” of the terrorist group in an audio message purportedly posted online by a known ISIS supporter.
A failed bomber in a string of terror attacks at Jordanian hotels in 2005, al-Rishawi was named Saturday in an audiotape that proposes a swap for Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. In the video, Goto is seen holding a photo of what appears to be beheaded compatriot Haruna Yukawa.
The online posts, which CNN could not verify independently, appeared four days after an ISIS video demanded that the Japanese government pay $200 million within 72 hours for the hostages’ release.
In the latest recording, the voice of a person claiming to be Goto is heard in English blaming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Yukawa’s death. The voice then issues a new ISIS demand: the release of al-Rishawi.
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“The aim was to inflict the largest number of casualties,” he said.
Muasher said Jordanian authorities had information that al-Rishawi’s husband “asked her to step out of the room” when her explosives failed to detonate.
In her confession, al-Rishawi said she and her husband stood at opposite sides of the room for the double-bombing.
“There was a wedding ceremony in the hotel,” she said. “There were women, men and children.”
