May 28, 2005

Army of Ansar al-Sunnah Website: Japanese Hostage Akihiko Saito Dead

The al Qaeda linked Army of Ansar al-Sunnah website has announced the death of Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito. The group claimed in their earlier website to have attacked his convoy on May 9th killing all civilians except Saito [earlier post here along with pics and screenshot of now defunct website]. They also had previously claimed that Saito was injured. The video may be download here. Graphic images below.

Today's announcement was also accompanied by a nearly four minute propaganda video. Unlike other Ansar al-Sunnah propaganda videos in the past, this one did not show Saito being killed. Rather, it shows a number of photographs and documents taken from Saito when he was captured, and then cuts to graphic images of an already dead victim.

According to the SITE institute:

The group claimed that Mr. Saito fired at its members with his automatic weapon, so “the Brother had no choice but to shoot him with multiple bullets.” According to the message, Mr. Saito was not immediately killed. As American forces surrounded the area, the group claimed they were forced to retreat. Upon their return to the area, the message said, they had found that Mr. Saito had died of his wounds.
Akihiko Saito, then, was never held hostage by the Army of Ansar al-Sunnah as they originally claimed. Rather, he was shot dead in the terrorist ambush during the initial phase of a US led operation in Western Iraq, near the Syrian border.

Ansar al-Sunnah had previously released video of that ambush which can be found here. The fact that several weeks passed between Saito's death and the release of this video today may indicate that the group is under heavy pressure from US forces. The group is also linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who is rumored to be dead.

Thanks to Chad Evans of In the Bullpen for alerting me. He has more commentary here. Digger also has images here.

Vlad has mirrored the Ansar al-Sunnah website here since the terrorists make it a habit of using short-lived free webhosting services.

James Joyner has the MSM reaction and blogger round up.

Screenshots and graphic images below. WARNING: THESE IMAGES ARE GRAPHIC AND SHOW THE TRUE FACE OF THE TERRORIST ENEMIES WE FIGHT. Below: A screenshot of the latest iteration of the Ansar al-Sunnah banner. Click for larger image.

Below: Announcement of Akihiko Saito's death on Ansar al-Sunnah Website. Click for larger image.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES FOLLOW

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Below: Images released by the Army of Ansar al-Sunnah of Akihiko Saito.

Akihiko3_saito_japanese_hostage_dead_graphic_1.jpg

Below: An image from the video.

Akihiko3_saito_japanese_hostage_dead_graphic_2.jpg

Posted by: Rusty at 02:32 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
Post contains 450 words, total size 5 kb.

1 WTF?! Who the heck was that other Akihito Saito being interviewed for his release on TV? Did he just go back there right away to get revenge and get killed because he had lost his honor not commiting harakiri when captured the first time?

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 28, 2005 03:03 PM (lGolT)

2 ...hiko of course...

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 28, 2005 03:04 PM (lGolT)

3 I'm so confused... Media and Army of Ansar al-Sunnah stink for messing with peoples livings and dyings.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 28, 2005 04:23 PM (lGolT)

4 If anyone's interested in contributing scorn & ridicule, I have some Arab troll (located in Toronto, no less) who's been spewing illiterate invective about my post HOW TO FLUSH A KORAN

Posted by: beautifulatrocities at May 28, 2005 05:38 PM (toJgw)

5 I heard that Zarqawi was wounded but as of yesterday was doing better and keeping up with the job of ordering attacks and deaths. As to this victim, these show he's been dead for some time. He's even got the death bloat about him. However he went, it wasn't pretty. I hope this new operation gets most of the guys who are doing this now. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at May 29, 2005 08:22 AM (PEKrh)

6 THE WAR PRAYER by Mark Twain http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/warPrayer.html

Posted by: greg at May 29, 2005 10:50 AM (/+dAV)

7 TO A FATWAD FINN: WTF, what exactly do you know about harakiri? Instead of being ignorant, why don't you research the meaning of Hara Kiri, before you leave such idiotic post. People like you make me just as sick as the ones committing these horrendous acts....

Posted by: Japan Girl at May 29, 2005 12:56 PM (cYO63)

8 Well, googled hara kiri and it said it is a ritual suicide commited to avoid dishonourable death, for example by the hands of the enemy when in captivity, which is what I thought it was in the first place. Kamikaze was the other word I almost used instead of it... Ok, fine. So I got messed up on my "facts", even this site had an article saying he was released, not killed in a gun fight. Perhaps this needs some racism: You all look the same and not many in Iraq know Japanese, so they probably thought the guy freed was actually Akihiko, which caused this mix up about his condition. (or then he took samurai honour seriously, understood he had lost his face and wanted to die a heros death, how the heck am I supposed to know...) Still, nice to know I have a powerful effect on someone, even if it is just disgust. Perhaps a fatwa needs some company, like a declaration of Amaterasus wrath upon my wretched soul. Next to get that "killing this guy is an act rewarded by God"-announcement from the Pope, if they can still do that. Or maybe I should just kill myself to make the people of Japan and Islam happy. What was that suicide blade again... a wakizashi? katana? I dunno that either. Guess I'm too ignorant to die, Japan Girl.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 29, 2005 03:29 PM (lGolT)

9 Oh yeah, I'm not on any code of honor yet, so I could just beg for forgiveness: Oh please, please, please don't be insulted by anything I write here, you must understand I have only one reason to comment on this site: To annoy and infuriate so I get to see some funny commentary. I am not trying to flame hatred around the world, or make people feel sad. I'm just simply bored every now and then, and if there is no interresting comment chains, I make a ridiculously simpleminded and offensive comment to start a word fight. You know, I even found writing that apology amusing... So don't mind me, I'm an idiot with no feelings for people I don't have to be in contact with physically, "in real life".

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 29, 2005 03:39 PM (lGolT)

10 Hmm... I should seriously stay away from the computer when under alcohols influence... I'll just retract everything I've said and apologize to Japan for... the "Did he just... ...the first time?" aaaaand the "Well, googled... ...is just disgust."

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 30, 2005 02:42 AM (cWMi4)

11 Phew, no ninjas, budo masters, Ichi the killer, Godzilla, Evas, Sailor warriors, Pokémons, kamikaze pilots or samurais busting through my walls yet, so I guess Japan doesn't care.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 30, 2005 12:44 PM (lGolT)

12 Nice job Finn, you have pissed the Japanese off and now they are coming. If I were you I would call Admiral Malmberg.Tell him to move the entire fleet out of Turkku and put to sea immediately! ThatÂ’s right, all 6 boats and both ships! Unless I miss my guess, you Finns are in for a nasty surprise next Sunday morning.

Posted by: Brad at May 31, 2005 08:35 AM (pO1tP)

13 Hehee! Guess I'll have to launch some nukes and level Tokyo on Friday. Don't think we have a navy... do we? Thought it's just coast guard, some old nuke submarine and tons of heavy artillery along the coast lines... Besides, what could they do? Invade with a million planes full of paratroopers? ...!! Gotta make sure the Russians know to shoot 'em down. I think the Hornets are already a bit out of date, and the east border is a demilitarized zone until 1st of January 2015... Oh well, they probably can't mobilize more than 4 million people, and because Russians beat 'em at least once, that means they're lesser than the '1/10-of-a-Finn'-Russians, so we won't even need reserves to defend. The Nokia-satellites will reveal their true purpose, cook 'em medium rare in their planes and burn "Owned" on mount Fuji. (They'll just suffocate in way too fresh air, get allergic symptoms from the pollen covering the whole land, freeze at night and the wolverines feast on their still living, yet well frozen corpses in the morning) ((Or I'll summon Ukko Perkele to rise the tides, crush the lands and eat the people of Japan)) (((Most likely they crash into the titanium bubble preventing things from happening to Finland))) ((((Or we'll yell "Gozira, Gozira!!" and they run around crazy as cardboard houses fall down all around them and a toy lizard roars on the background))))

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at May 31, 2005 11:46 AM (lGolT)

14 Are you sure that's Akihiko Saito? It could be The Rock after a wrestling match. Akihiko is really in Egypt visiting the pyramids.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 01, 2005 06:39 AM (cWMi4)

15 Our land, our land, our native land, Oh, let her name ring clear! No peaks against the heavens that stand, No gentle dales or foaming strand Are loved as we our home revere, The earth our sires held dear. The flowers in their buds that grope Shall burst their sheaths with spring; So from our love to bloom shall ope Thy gleam, thy glow, thy joy hope, And higher yet some day shall ring The patriot song we sing! This is a stupid song and we will not allow you to sing it when we defeat you. Your women will be forced to give us much pleasure. I can't wait to make a Finland roll out of herring? Are they as good as they say? We shall find out soon! Banzi!!!!

Posted by: Lt. Sushi at June 01, 2005 08:31 AM (pO1tP)

16 What the hell is that song supposed to be? I knew the English translations for Maamme-laulu were total bullshit... Well, the real lyrics: Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa! Soi sana kultainen! Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa, ei vettä rantaa rakkaampaa kuin kotimaa tää pohjoinen.(POHJOINEN!!!!! real loud, the norther you live, the louder you sing it) Maa kallis isien. Sun kukoistukses kuorestaan kerrankin puhkeaa; viel' lempemme saa nousemaan sun toivos, riemus loistossaan, ja kerran laulus, synnyinmaa korkeemman kaiun saa. Herring sushi is very good, it's a sweet fish. Sure, our women can give you geeks pleasure, because to you it's just handing out pictures of naked cartoon women. About your invasion: I'll crush all of you 5-foot, 40 kilo, astmatic little hamsters by myself, I won't even need a weapon for that. I'll make you sing kimigayo wa chiyo ni yachiyo ni sazare-ishi no iwao to narite koke no musu made backwards ten times a day and make "Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza" your official national anthem.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 01, 2005 08:50 AM (lGolT)

17 Rude Finnish person, When you have been defeated I will personally visit your home and pee in your sauna. Thereafter, you will be forced to sing Karaoke to my Kki Onda and Tetsu Satoh CDs. Your reindeer will be scattered like cherry blossoms. Your women will never want to return to men over 5’5”. Once the go small they never go back….ha,ha, Banzi!!!!! Hmmmm, turning left at Norway…Where is this Finland anyway….only 4 more days to find it. I think it’s the part of this wasteland the Russians didn’t want. BANZI!!!!! Lt. Sushi

Posted by: Lt. Sushi at June 01, 2005 01:24 PM (B54Lt)

18 I like karaoke. Your pee is so lame no one will ever even notice it with all the sweat. My reindeer? Ok, bring me reindeer and scatter them. Oh, if you're looking for Finland, it's that group of islands 200 miles northeast of Stockholm. Make sure to bomb it hard before you notice it's a demilitarized autonomous area. Hmm... The border guards are on strike at a very bad time. If you notice any ground fire, it will be just me. Rest of the people are on vacation. Make sure to test the missile defense grid we have, we haven't really put it to good use yet.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 01, 2005 03:09 PM (lGolT)

19 A very big OOOPS! Swedish planes mysteriously crashing in the Baltic, sorry for mistaking you for Japs. Also, government got mad at Russians all of a sudden, when a few of their planes flew slightly on our side of the border.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 01, 2005 03:35 PM (lGolT)

20 Trouble making Finn boy, You will think a Fatwa is a good thing after Japanese defense forces get through with you. I suggest you and all Finns get plenty of rest this weekend, sleep very late on Sunday. HA HA, BANZI!!! Sailing, Sailing, la, da da,Â…Hmmmm itÂ’s is really getting cold on deck. ItÂ’s June first and it looks like winter is comingÂ…Â…. Another left turn and into the Baltic. I canÂ’t wait to see those Finnish women. Japanese intelligence say Finn women just like Swede women only they donÂ’t shave arm pitsÂ…... Hmmmm. Well, Lt. Sushi has been at sea a long time. BANZI!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Lt. sushi at June 01, 2005 05:32 PM (B54Lt)

21 Wonder which side those hundreds of NATO planes circling around will be on... Oh sorry, I think I sank 10 of your warships already, I thought they were toys and didn't notice the little Japs squeaking in them. Defense forces? Don't think so.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 02, 2005 12:55 AM (cWMi4)

22 I already think a Fatwa is a good thing. Another good thing is that the Finnish army is already mobilized due to the (practice?)war situation where our soldiers, who have just completed the obligatory service of 6 to 12 months, (fake-?)fight the NATO-forces to test their equipment and special troops in (realsituationlike-?)action. (yeah right, it's really a NATO invasion we have to fight off every year) Thanks a lot for offering the possibility to test the army in a two-front war, if even if your attack is just about as dangerous as Hamtaro-cartoons are for children: only causes mild thrills followed by boredom.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 02, 2005 06:11 AM (cWMi4)

23 Lt. Sushi have bad news for Finland. Japanese defense forces have secret treaty with France! Your worst nightmare has come true. Two great military powers, Japan and ....errrr...France together in war. I love what the American General Swartzkoff said about the French. “Going to war with out the French is like going hunting without an accordion” hmmmm..Lt. Sushi wonder what he meant by that. Well, lock up your women Finns, we are coming. Hey Finn, pretty soon kids in Finland all look like Hamster! Ha,Ha, Banzi!!!!

Posted by: Lt. Sushi at June 02, 2005 08:02 AM (pO1tP)

24 Yawn... We'll just tell the Hornets to drop hentai-tapes on your ships so your invasion is halted for a month.

Posted by: A fatwad Finn at June 02, 2005 09:22 AM (lGolT)

25 I lived with Saito Akihiko for several months in Seoul, Korea in 1999/2000. He was a strong, personable, and caring man. He was a professional warrior with a great deal of experience around the world, chosen to be a chief trainer in the French Foreign legion - units lik these do not slect people who act rashly and inappropriately to teach their own. However he died, I can assure you that it was not while acting to "protect his honor." While born a Japanese, he had was a world citizen, and not tied to tradition and sentiment without purpose.

Posted by: Akihiko Friend at July 05, 2005 09:43 PM (iI//A)

26 WELL SINCE THEY LIKE TO LIVE BY HATE AND DEATH THEN IT WILL COME TO THEM .... THE CREATOR WILL JUDGE THEM BASED ON THEIR REJECTION OF GRACE. THEY WILL ROT IN HELL...

Posted by: LUKE at August 03, 2005 02:31 AM (lV1tZ)

27 I have only just found this site. In particular the report about the Ambush in which Akihiko Saito died. It claims the Ambush happened on 9th of May 2005, when in fact it was on Sunday 8th of May 2005. I know this because I am one of the survivours of that Ambush.We worked for a private security company NOT American forces. We are not any form or intelligence forces, and the 12 Nationals that also died that day where infact just ordinary Iraqi people trained by ourselves to carry out normal guarding and escort duties for convoys of supplies around Iraq, in the beliefe that we where all doing something worthwhile for Iraq and the people of Iraq. I cant describe to any of you the horror of that day, nor indeed how myself and three Iraqi collegues, and the international, five in all, survived. What I can say is that Aki was the most pleasant person I have ever had the opportunity to meet during my life, anyone who met him would say that he was indeed one of the best human beings ever to walk on this planet. He died while trying to defend himself and his collegues from an ambush now widely regarded as probably the worst suffered by private security or indeed coallition forces since we marched in there in 2003. He was gunned down after fighting on the ground when his vehicle was disabled by the initial gunfire, he was fighting with another International in a garage they had got into on the side of the road in Al Hit, Sunni controlled, three insurgents gunned him down as he was looking for a route out of the rear of the building. The video shows several cars on fire and a number of bodies littering the street. I can assure all of you that only three of the cars belonged to us, the rest where insurgent vehicles. We lost 14 people that day, but rest assured that the Fuckers who's cowardly ambush took my collegues, lost a damn site more than we did. Every member of my team acted with Total Professionalism throughout the whole attack, not one finger could be pointed, towards my team or indeed the company we represented, with any blame for the attack and the manner in which we conducted ourselves prior, during and after the incident. To those who where fortunate to have our lives touched by Akihiko Saito, I ask you to remenber him with great fondness and indeed love, as that is what he gave us all. CHEERS AKI, YOU WHERE THE BEST.

Posted by: simon at October 17, 2005 10:18 AM (HTTxf)

28 You can't be 46272 serious?!?

Posted by: Max Ballstein at July 06, 2006 12:10 PM (BlyjW)

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