Kassig’s parents say awaiting confirmation on death

The parents of US aid worker Peter Kassig said on Sunday they were awaiting official confirmation on the death of their ‘treasured son.’ ‘We are aware of the news reports being circulated about our treasured son and are waiting for confirmation from the government as to the authenticity of these reports,’ Ed and Paula Kassig said. The ISIS group released a video Sunday claiming the killing, showing a masked militant standing over a severed head whom the militant said was Kassig. The same video also showed the simultaneous beheadings of at least 18 men described as Syrian military personnel. Kassig’s parents asked for media coverage to focus not on the gruesome footage but on their son’s work and life. ‘The family asks that the media avoid playing into the hostage-takers’ hands and refrain from publishing photographs or video distributed by the hostage takers,’ the Kassig’s wrote.