Iraqi militants holding a German woman and her son hostage demanded Saturday that Germany withdraw its troops from Afghanistan to ensure their safety.The little-known Arrows of Righteousness group posted video on the Internet on Saturday threatening to kill the two in 10 days if Berlin won't comply.
CNN could not independently confirm the authenticity of the video. In it, a woman identified as Hannelore Marianne Krause urges German Chancellor Angela Merkel to heed the demands. A passport with that name is shown in the video. German officials did not confirm the kidnap victims' names or say why they were in Iraq.
"Crisis management officials are working on the case of the hostages" and are in contact with the appropriate government officials and with family members, according to the German Foreign Ministry.
While sitting next to her son, Krause tells Merkel, "These people want to kill my son in front of my eyes, and then they'll kill me, if the German troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan." She and her adult son clutch each other and cry as they speak while three militants, two armed with large assault rifles, stand behind them. "They are not joking, and they'll kill us," Krause says. "I am very tired. Please help me. Make a decision or we will be killed."
As part of NATO's Afghanistan force, Germany has about 3,000 troops in the relatively peaceful northern part of the country. On Friday, Germany decided to send additional reconnaissance jets and personnel to the area. German troops also help train Iraqi soldiers and police, but not in Iraq.
Krause also called on German citizens and government and nongovernmental organizations to help.
The three masked men who are shown standing behind the two Germans are in civilian clothes, not the usual uniform worn by militants in Internet videos. Reading a prepared statement, one of the militants says: "We have warned you. Otherwise, you will not see their bodies."
"Muslims are all one nation, and have one religion. It is not acceptable that Germany leads the coalition troops in Afghanistan, and attacks the secured villages and claim it is not fighting in Iraq."