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Alan Henning memorial service to be held Alan Henning memorial service to be held in Eccles
(about 2 hours later)
The widow of murdered aid worker Alan Henning has told how his family has been left struggling to understand his death, ahead of a memorial service. The widow of murdered aid worker Alan Henning has said his family is still struggling to come to terms with his death, ahead of a memorial service.
Family and friends will gather for the private service at Eccles Parish Church in Eccles, Greater Manchester. Family and friends will gather for the private service at Eccles Parish Church in Eccles, Greater Manchester, later.
The 47-year old taxi driver was captured by IS in December while delivering supplies to Syrian refugees. The 47-year old taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by Islamic State militants.
Widow Barbara Henning said her husband's death had left the family "devastated". Barbara Henning said her husband's death had left the family "devastated".
Mr Henning became the fourth western hostage to be killed by IS militants when his beheading was broadcast on the internet in October. A video purporting to show Mr Henning being beheaded was posted on the internet in October.
As with other IS victims, his murder is thought to be at the hands of a jihadist known in the UK media as "Jihadi John". At the time he was the fourth western hostage to be murdered by IS.
In a statement ahead of Saturday's service, his wife Barbara said that his children Lucy and Adam "cannot come to terms with why a person would carry out such an act on a fellow human being". Like previous videos, it featured a militant with an apparently British accent, known in the UK media as "Jihadi John".
In a statement ahead of Saturday's service, Mrs Henning said her husband's death "caused by a senseless act of barbarity, has left family and friends devastated and worst of all, his children without their loving, funny and amazing dad".
She said the couple's children Lucy and Adam "cannot come to terms with why a person would carry out such an act on a fellow human being".
"Alan was a peaceful, selfless man who left his family in the UK at Christmas 2013 to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need," she said."Alan was a peaceful, selfless man who left his family in the UK at Christmas 2013 to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need," she said.
"Lucy and Adam understood why he had to go, he had explained to them how he had seen children with nothing, living in tents and queuing for food and water. "We as a family are extremely proud of him.
"His death, caused by a senseless act of barbarity, has left family and friends devastated and worst of all, his children without their loving, funny and amazing dad," she said. "Lucy and Adam understood why he had to go, he had explained to them how he had seen children with nothing, living in tents and queuing for food and water and how much harder it was for them in the middle of winter. Some of these children had lost their entire families."
A memorial ceremony was held in October at the British Muslim Heritage Centre and was attended by hundreds of people, including faith and political leaders. Reverend Cyprian Yobera, who is carrying out the service, said it would be a "celebration" of Mr Henning's life but "as close to a funeral service as we can get".
Funds set up in his memory by Muslim colleagues and friends have raised over £30,000. "It is hoped by the family that this will bring closure. They are on a journey coming to terms with what happened to their dad. They are really proud of him," he told BBC Breakfast.
Prime Minister David Cameron is considering recognising Mr Henning with a national honour following a request by his MP, Barbara Keeley. Mrs Henning went on: "On behalf of the entire family, I want to thank everyone who campaigned for Alan's release, who held vigils to pray for his safe return, and who condemned those who took him.
In October, Barbara Henning and her children travelled to Scotland to attend a memorial service for David Haines, the fellow aid-worker also killed by Islamic State. "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...
In a statement issued through the Foreign Office, Ms Henning said: "On behalf of the entire family, I want to thank everyone who campaigned for Alan's release, who held vigils to pray for his safe return, and who condemned those who took him. "I only hope that we can bring these people to justice, or that they receive the justice they deserve in the next life.
"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, "No god would ever condone the killing of innocent people."
"I only hope that we can bring these people to justice, or that they receive the justice they deserve in the next life," she said. A memorial ceremony was also held in October at Manchester's British Muslim Heritage Centre and was attended by hundreds of people, including faith and political leaders.
Funds set up in Mr Henning's memory by Muslim colleagues and friends have raised more than £30,000.
Prime Minister David Cameron is also considering recognising Mr Henning with a national honour following a request by his MP, Barbara Keeley.