The Islamic State (IS) group says it has executed two hostages -- a Norwegian and a Chinese citizen.
The militants’ Dabiq magazine featured on November 18 graphic photos of two bodies that appeared to be those of Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad and Fan Jinghui.
It gave no details about when, where, or how the two men were killed, but they appeared to have been shot.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said there was no reason to doubt the claim, and called it a "despicable and barbaric act."
"The terrorist organization has no regard for human decency and the bottom line of morality," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
In the Dabiq magazine’s September edition, the IS militants had published an "advertisement" saying that two men -- a Norwegian and a Chinese -- were "for sale."