The Latest on Croatian Hostage Killed by Islamic State

The latest in the events surrounding the purported slaying by Egypt's Islamic State affiliate of Croatian hostage Tomislav Salopek, after an online image was circulated Wednesday showing his beheaded body. ——— 7:10 p.m. Croatia's President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expressed her deepest sympathy with the family of Salopek and all his friends but noted that his death has not been confirmed. She says: "In these moments of deep uncertainty, I am sympathizing with the family, parents and friends of Tomislav Salopek." Grabar-Kitarovic spoke to reporters in the coastal city of Split. She also added that she wants to "firmly state that, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, one little crumb of chance that Tomislav is alive, we are continuing to work, continuing the search and continuing efforts to save his life." ——— 7:05 p.m. In Salopek's hometown of Vrpolje in Croatia, a family representative and close friend has come out of their home on Wednesday evening to tell media waiting outside that everyone is deeply stricken and in shock over the tragic news. Stipe Bilokapic says he has been with the family of the Croat hostage since the ordeal started last month with Salopek's abduction in Egypt. An obviously distraught Bilokapic said of Salopek: "He is my friend. It is shocking." ——— 6:35 p.m. The German Foreign Ministry reacted to the killing of Salopek by saying that "this abhorrent act once again shows that the fanatical ideology of ISIS threatens us all." The statement also says that Germany will do everything possible, with its international partners, "to push ISIS back, not just militarily but above all politically." ISIS is an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group, which has captured a third of both Syria and Iraq while its affiliates have emerged in countries such as Egypt and Libya. There are also growing numbers of supporters in other countries. Germany has supplied weapons to Kurdish forces battling the IS group in northern Iraq. A U.S.-led alliance is targeting IS targets in both Syria and Iraq. ——— 5:25 p.m. In Croatia, residents of Salopek's hometown of Vrpolje expressed utter shock and dismay over his brutal killing by the Islamic State group in Egypt. One of the townspeople, Slavko Lapac, told The Associated Press that "it is hard to even speak" and that his heart goes out to Salopek's two children and wife. Lapac, who is in his 50s, says he hopes that "beyond this world, over there, he will find peace and that he will be put among the righteous." Lapac's wife, Ankica, added that she was shocked at the news coming out of Egypt. "I simply cannot believe this is happening." ——— 5:05 p.m. Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic says that authorities in Croatia cannot confirm Salopek's killing with certainty. He says "we can not 100 percent confirm it is true but what we see looks horrific. A confirmation may not come for several days." Milanovic, in an address to the nation on Croatian television, also urged people not to expose their children to the gruesome image of Salopek's body posted online and not to distribute it. He says officials "will not stop searching, digging as long as there is a drop of hope." He also appealed for calm, saying Croatians "have to continue living normally." ——— 4:40 p.m. Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhoodgroup says the beheading of Salopek is a sign of the Cairo government's failure to curb extremism. From his exile in Istanbul, Amr Darrag, a senior Brotherhood figure and former minister, says that "it's clear the battle against the cancer of extremism in Egypt is being lost." He also says Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government tried to "legitimize itself with a supposed tough stance against home-grown militants" but that his security policy "has been a catastrophic failure." The Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist group in Egypt, where the government blames it for the majority of extremist attacks. Darrag's statement also says that because of his "brutal actions against civilians in Sinai and elsewhere," el-Sissi has become the Islamic State's "recruiters' best friend." ——— 4:15 p.m. Egypt's Al-Azhar institute, the top center of religious learning for Sunni Muslims, has condemned the killing of Salopek, calling it a "demonic act" contrary to all religion. It also offered condolences to the Croatian people and government and to Salopek's family, calling on Egyptian authorities to go after the culprits and bring them to justice. The statement also says that under Islamic law, or Shariah, it is forbidden to shed the blood of foreigners, adding that what the "terrorists" did was a betrayal of the Prophet Muhammad and all Muslims. Source : ABC NEWS