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| Alan Henning's family 'numb with grief' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British hostage Alan Henning's family are "numb with grief" after his murder by Islamic State (IS) militants, his widow Barbara has said. | British hostage Alan Henning's family are "numb with grief" after his murder by Islamic State (IS) militants, his widow Barbara has said. |
| A video showing Mr Henning's killing appeared online on Friday. | |
| The 47-year-old's widow said she and their children were "extremely proud" of him. They thanked the government and others for their support. | |
| Mr Henning's brother had earlier suggested more could have been done to secure his release. | |
| Colin Livesey described the killers as "scum" and said the family had lost a "great person". | |
| 'Extremely proud' | 'Extremely proud' |
| Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, described the murder as "completely unforgivable" and vowed the UK would do all it could to find those responsible. | Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, described the murder as "completely unforgivable" and vowed the UK would do all it could to find those responsible. |
| Mr Henning, a taxi driver from Eccles in Salford, was on his fourth aid mission to Syria in December when he was kidnapped minutes after arriving in the country. | |
| The statement from the Henning family said: "Alan was a decent, caring human being. His interest was in the welfare of others. He will be remembered for this and we as a family are extremely proud of him and what he achieved and the people he helped." | |
| Mrs Henning and her children, Lucy and Adam, also thanked those who campaigned for Mr Henning's release, saying: "Your efforts were a great support to us, and we take comfort in knowing how many people stood beside us in hoping for the best." | Mrs Henning and her children, Lucy and Adam, also thanked those who campaigned for Mr Henning's release, saying: "Your efforts were a great support to us, and we take comfort in knowing how many people stood beside us in hoping for the best." |
| Earlier, Mr Livesey - Mrs Henning's brother - said he was devastated for the family. | Earlier, Mr Livesey - Mrs Henning's brother - said he was devastated for the family. |
| He said: "We're all just saddened knowing that we've lost a great person in our family." | He said: "We're all just saddened knowing that we've lost a great person in our family." |
| Regarding Mr Henning's killers, Mr Livesey said: "I just hope and pray they get what's coming to them. I've just so much hatred for them." | Regarding Mr Henning's killers, Mr Livesey said: "I just hope and pray they get what's coming to them. I've just so much hatred for them." |
| He said the government could have done more for Mr Henning in captivity, "when they knew about it, months and months ago". | He said the government could have done more for Mr Henning in captivity, "when they knew about it, months and months ago". |
| He also said not enough was done to save fellow Briton David Haines. The jihadists released video footage last month showing captured aid worker Mr Haines' death. | He also said not enough was done to save fellow Briton David Haines. The jihadists released video footage last month showing captured aid worker Mr Haines' death. |
| 'Absolutely abhorrent' | 'Absolutely abhorrent' |
| The prime minister described Mr Henning as a "kind, gentle, compassionate and caring man". | The prime minister described Mr Henning as a "kind, gentle, compassionate and caring man". |
| Speaking at Chequers following a briefing from defence and intelligence officials, including the head of MI5, Mr Cameron said the murder was "absolutely abhorrent". | Speaking at Chequers following a briefing from defence and intelligence officials, including the head of MI5, Mr Cameron said the murder was "absolutely abhorrent". |
| "Anyone in any doubt about this organisation can now see how truly repulsive and barbaric it is," he said. | "Anyone in any doubt about this organisation can now see how truly repulsive and barbaric it is," he said. |
| A Downing Street spokesperson added: "Isil's brutality will not persuade us to change our approach. | A Downing Street spokesperson added: "Isil's brutality will not persuade us to change our approach. |
| "Indeed, the senseless murder of an innocent man only reinforces our resolve to defeat this terrorist organisation and to eradicate the threat they pose to Britons - whether those in the region or here on the streets of the UK." | "Indeed, the senseless murder of an innocent man only reinforces our resolve to defeat this terrorist organisation and to eradicate the threat they pose to Britons - whether those in the region or here on the streets of the UK." |
| In the most recent video published by IS, the extremist group sometimes known as Isil or Isis threatens another aid worker - American Peter Kassig. | In the most recent video published by IS, the extremist group sometimes known as Isil or Isis threatens another aid worker - American Peter Kassig. |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the footage included a reference to last week's vote by Parliament to authorise air strikes against the militants in Iraq. | BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the footage included a reference to last week's vote by Parliament to authorise air strikes against the militants in Iraq. |
| As in previous IS videos, it features a jihadist who, from his accent, appears to be from Britain. | As in previous IS videos, it features a jihadist who, from his accent, appears to be from Britain. |
| Mr Cameron said "all the assets" the government has would be used to try to find and help remaining hostages. | Mr Cameron said "all the assets" the government has would be used to try to find and help remaining hostages. |
| Mr Henning's wife had earlier this week appealed for her husband's release, saying: "He is innocent." | Mr Henning's wife had earlier this week appealed for her husband's release, saying: "He is innocent." |
| She asked for "mercy", saying the family was still trying to communicate with her husband's captors. Mr Henning's family had also received an audio message of him pleading for his life. | She asked for "mercy", saying the family was still trying to communicate with her husband's captors. Mr Henning's family had also received an audio message of him pleading for his life. |
| US President Barack Obama joined widespread condemnation of the killing, calling it a "brutal murder" and saying it was a "great loss" to the Syrian people Mr Henning had been trying to help. | US President Barack Obama joined widespread condemnation of the killing, calling it a "brutal murder" and saying it was a "great loss" to the Syrian people Mr Henning had been trying to help. |
| Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, tweeted: "Saddened by reported murder of Alan Henning. A despicable and offensive act. He helped Muslims. My thoughts and prayers with his family." | Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, tweeted: "Saddened by reported murder of Alan Henning. A despicable and offensive act. He helped Muslims. My thoughts and prayers with his family." |
| Mr Henning's friend Majid Freeman, who was with him on the convoy when he was captured, also accused the government of failing to act. | Mr Henning's friend Majid Freeman, who was with him on the convoy when he was captured, also accused the government of failing to act. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Henning had been "abandoned", adding: "They usually give these hostages one week since they make the video, and then they kill them. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Henning had been "abandoned", adding: "They usually give these hostages one week since they make the video, and then they kill them. |
| "In Alan's case they dragged it on for three weeks... which goes to show that they did maybe, they were maybe considering releasing him." | "In Alan's case they dragged it on for three weeks... which goes to show that they did maybe, they were maybe considering releasing him." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Frank Gardner, security correspondent | Frank Gardner, security correspondent |
| David Cameron's vow to catch the jihadist killers of Alan Henning and bring them to justice would seem to match the mood of the nation. | David Cameron's vow to catch the jihadist killers of Alan Henning and bring them to justice would seem to match the mood of the nation. |
| But judging by the track record of previous such cases of hostages being murdered overseas, this promise has little likelihood of being fulfilled. | But judging by the track record of previous such cases of hostages being murdered overseas, this promise has little likelihood of being fulfilled. |
| Tony Blair made the same pledge after Ken Bigley from Liverpool was beheaded in 2004, Gordon Brown did the same when tourist Edwin Dwyer was kidnapped and killed in the Sahara, and Mr Cameron vowed to punish those who besieged the Algerian gas plant last year. | Tony Blair made the same pledge after Ken Bigley from Liverpool was beheaded in 2004, Gordon Brown did the same when tourist Edwin Dwyer was kidnapped and killed in the Sahara, and Mr Cameron vowed to punish those who besieged the Algerian gas plant last year. |
| According to the Crown Prosecution Service, there has not been one single case of any murderers of British hostages ever being brought to justice in Britain. | According to the Crown Prosecution Service, there has not been one single case of any murderers of British hostages ever being brought to justice in Britain. |
| Profile: Alan Henning | Profile: Alan Henning |
| Henning's home town 'stunned' | Henning's home town 'stunned' |
| 'Generous character' | 'Generous character' |
| IS has previously released videos showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker Mr Haines. | IS has previously released videos showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker Mr Haines. |
| The video released on Friday is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Mr Henning kneeling beside a militant dressed in black, in a desert setting. | The video released on Friday is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Mr Henning kneeling beside a militant dressed in black, in a desert setting. |
| The footage ends with an IS fighter threatening a man they identify as Mr Kassig. | The footage ends with an IS fighter threatening a man they identify as Mr Kassig. |
| In a statement, Mr Kassig's family said he had converted to Islam. They referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig. | In a statement, Mr Kassig's family said he had converted to Islam. They referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig. |
| The family asked people to pray that he and "all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe" would be freed. | The family asked people to pray that he and "all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe" would be freed. |
| Earlier on Friday, the father of another hostage, British journalist John Cantlie, appealed for him to be released "to those he loves and who love him". | Earlier on Friday, the father of another hostage, British journalist John Cantlie, appealed for him to be released "to those he loves and who love him". |
| The journalist, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012, has so far appeared in three videos in which he has delivered scripted messages responding to military attacks on IS. | The journalist, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012, has so far appeared in three videos in which he has delivered scripted messages responding to military attacks on IS. |
| RAF Tornados first hit IS targets on Tuesday, four days after Parliament authorised UK involvement in an international military campaign. | RAF Tornados first hit IS targets on Tuesday, four days after Parliament authorised UK involvement in an international military campaign. |
| The aircraft have been conducting daily flights over Iraq, and carrying out air strikes against vehicles and weapons positions to assist Kurdish and Iraqi army ground forces. | The aircraft have been conducting daily flights over Iraq, and carrying out air strikes against vehicles and weapons positions to assist Kurdish and Iraqi army ground forces. |
| IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and declared what it describes as a caliphate in the areas it has taken. | IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and declared what it describes as a caliphate in the areas it has taken. |