Italy doubts internet claims that hostages were murdered

TWO statements have surfaced on the internet from different groups, each claiming to have killed two kidnapped Italian aid workers.

The second statement said a video of the slaying of the two women, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, would be made public, but Italy cast doubt on both claims’ authenticity.

“Italian intelligence services believe these claims to be completely unreliable,” Enzo Bianco, the head of the parliament commission overseeing secret services, told Italian news agencies.