Sajida al-Rishawi - the woman IS wants in exchange for Japanese hostage Kenji Goto

Sajida al-Rishawi in April 2006. - EPA photo

SINGAPORE: The Islamic State (IS) is reportedly demanding the release of an al-Qaeda-linked attempted female suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, in exchange for its hostage, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

Rishawi, who is in her 40s, was arrested in 2005 shortly after she tried, but failed, to blow herself up as part of a string of hotel bombings in Amman, Jordan, that killed at least 57 people, reported The New York Times.