Philippine army finds body of beheaded German hostage Jurgen Kantner

The body of a German hostage beheaded by Islamist 
militants in the Philippines this week has been recovered, military officials say.

Jurgen Kantner was abducted from his yacht in November. The Abu Sayyaf group said it was behind the incident.

The body was retrieved on the island of Sulu and will be returned to Germany, officials said.

Mr Kantner's companion, Sabine Merz, was found shot
 dead aboard their abandoned yacht in November.

Last month, a video was posted showing the beheading 
of Mr Kantner by a knife-wielding man.

The German foreign ministry said in a statement that 
it was"deeply shocked by the inhuman and gruesome act".

Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent 
jihadist groups in the southern Philippines, known for its brutality, including beheadings.

It has pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State.

In recent months it has been behind a series of attacks at 
sea between the Philippines and Malaysia, with tug boats
 and fishing vessels intercepted and their crews kidnapped and held for ransom.

According to Abu Sayyaf, the couple were cruising off Malaysia's Sabah state when the militants intercepted 
them, the Filipino military say.

Mr Kantner, 70, and his companion had been held for 52
 days in 2008 by Somali pirates and released after a 
ransom was paid.