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Last updated on Monday, October 6, 2014
(UNDATED) - The Associated Press is reporting that members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have reportedly threatened an Indiana native as its next victim.
A video showing the beheading of British hostage Alan Henning shows an ISIS fighter threatened 26-year-old Peter Kassig, of Indianapolis, as the group's next victim.
Though the AP has not verified the video's authenticity, it mirrored that of three others released by the group, each depicting the beheading of American or British citizens.
This is the fourth such video that has been released, marking the deaths of American photojournalist James Foley, American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and Henning, who was taken hostage by the group on Dec. 26.
Kassig's family says Abdul-Rahman (formerly Peter) Kassig, was working for a relief organization when he was captured on Oct. 1, 2013 as he was on his way to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria.
Kassig listed his residency as Indianapolis when he enlisted in the Army in 2004, completing his training at Fort Benning, Ga. in 2006 before being deployed to Iraq from April to July 2007. Kassig served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, an army special operations unit.
He was medically discharged at the rank of private first class in September 2007. He later became an emergency medical technician and traveled to Lebanon in May 2012 to work as a volunteer medical assistant in border hospitals treating Palestinian refugees and later those fleeing the growing Syrian conflict, as well.
Later that fall, Kassig founded SERA (Special Emergency Response and Assistance), a non-governmental organization. In the summer of 2013 he moved its base of operations to Gaziantep, Turkey. SERA was dedicated to providing first-response humanitarian aid for refugees fleeing the widening civil war in Syria. Kassig sourced and delivered food and medical supplies to the growing camps on both sides of the Syrian border. He also provided primary trauma care and trauma care training to civilian casualties inside Syria.
He was undertaking a project for SERA when he was detained on October 1, 2013, on his way to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria.
In his work in Lebanon, Turkey and Syria, Kassig worked closely with and befriended Syrian medical and humanitarian workers who were trying to save lives and restore hope. He has since converted to Islam while being held hostage, and the family understands from speaking to former hostages that Kassig's faith has provided him comfort during his long captivity.
Gov. Mike Pence released a statement asking residents to keep Kassig and his family in their thoughts.
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