ISIS has other Western hostages besides the two murdered American journalists . Hostages can be useful as chips or exchanged for ransom payments . At the same time , other European governments in the past are thought to have handed over cash to terror groups to ensure the release of nationals . U.S. and UK governments have advised against paying ransom for hostages . Abductions are often kept quiet for fear of jeopardizing efforts to secure the release of the victims .
ISIS has other Western hostages besides the two murdered American journalists . Hostages can be useful as chips or exchanged for ransom payments . U.S. and UK governments have advised against paying ransom for hostages . Abductions are often kept quiet for fear of jeopardizing efforts to secure the release of the victims .