Thread: Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'

A video purporting to show UK hostage Alan Henning being beheaded has been released by Islamic State militants.

Mr Henning was delivering aid to Syria when he was kidnapped, as Paul Wood reports

The Salford taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by IS.

IS threatened to kill him in footage last month showing the death of Briton David Haines, and in this video they threaten US aid worker Peter Kassig.

David Cameron said Britain would do all it could "to hunt down these murderers and bring them to justice".

The prime minister said the killing of father-of-two Mr Henning, 47, showed "how barbaric and repulsive" IS was.

"My thoughts and prayers tonight are with Alan's wife Barbara, their children and all those who loved him," he said.

"Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need."

Mr Henning's wife Barbara had this week appealed for her husband's release, saying: "He is innocent."

Volunteer Mr Henning was on his fourth aid mission to Syria when he was captured within minutes of arriving in the country last December.

The prime minister will be briefed by intelligence and security chiefs on Saturday.

Downing Street said the "barbarity" of the act "underlines why it is right for Britain to join in the attacks against IS", according to BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith.

"It is also pointed out that ministers have known for some time the risk to Western hostages and cannot allow that to determine British foreign policy," our correspondent added.

Number Ten has declined to comment on the possible use of special forces in the fight against IS.

'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.

The video released on Friday is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Mr Henning kneeling beside a militant, who is dressed in black, in a desert setting.

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 and referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig.

The family asked people around the world to pray for his release and that of "all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe".

They also asked people to pray for Mr Henning's family, adding: "We have read about his work and his generous character with great respect and admiration."

Mr Henning's friend Majid Freeman described him as a "selfless, humble, courageous individual" who had simply wanted to help others.

Mr Freeman, who was with him on the convoy when he was captured, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "He was helping the innocent people the rest of the world had abandoned.

"It doesn't make sense to kill him."

'British accent'
BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the footage was similar to previous videos released by IS, though slightly shorter.

He said it included a reference to last week's vote by UK Parliament to authorise air strikes against IS in Iraq.

Like previous videos it features a militant with an apparently British accent, he added.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement: "We are aware of the video and are working urgently to verify the contents.

"If true, this is a further disgusting murder.

"We are offering the family every support possible; they ask to be left alone at this time."

The US said it was evaluating the video and if proved real, it was "another demonstration of the brutality" of the militant group.

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.

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.

Profile: Alan Henning

Henning's home town 'stunned'

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US President Barack Obama led 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."

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "This barbaric killing is an attack against all decent people around the world."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg offered his "sincere condolences" to the Henning family and said of IS: "We are resolved to defeat this evil."

Barbara Henning
Barbara Henning had made a direct appeal to IS for her husband to be freed
Labour leader Ed Miliband called the killing "appalling and barbaric".

Earlier this week Mrs Henning had asked for "mercy" for her husband, saying his family was continuing their attempts to communicate with the group.

She also said she had received an audio message of her husband pleading for his life.

Mrs Henning had said some people thought her husband was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she said: "He was in the right place doing the right thing."

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Imam Qari Assim says the apparent murder of Alan Henning is "despicable" and "beggars belief"
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.


John Cantlie was kidnapped in Syria in 2012
RAF Tornados first hit IS targets on Tuesday, four days after Parliament authorised UK involvement in the military campaign.

The aircraft have been conducting daily flights over Iraq, and carrying out air strikes against vehicles and weapons positions to assist Kurdish ground forces.

The UK is among the nations that have joined forces to tackle the militant group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria.

IS has declared a so-called caliphate in the areas it has taken.

BBC News - Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'

What horrid barstards they have purporting to be advancing Islam. I am afraid I view all Muslims in the same boat, if that makes me bigot, so be it.

The family and most of the world found out before the BBC via social media, actually witnessing the beheading video.

Tragic and barbaric!

To think he was executed this way by a fellow Brit is sad and does not bode well for the future.

RIP Alan

RIP dies for what helping the people of there own country.


Sad day, for all the family and friends.

Such things happen in war time, don't they?

Originally Posted by Ozcol

What horrid barstards they have purporting to be advancing Islam. I am afraid I view all Muslims in the same boat, if that makes me bigot, so be it.

I don't. I just put Islam in the that basket. Unfortunately anyone who follows such a barbaric religion as this kind of follows it in by default.

Certainly most muslims don't find this as shocking as civilised people do.

That should speak volumes.

White English-speaking people are more important and valuable to the world.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

White English-speaking people are more important and valuable to the world.

Jeff, WTF are you on about?

We all know that you seem to enjoy being the contrarian, even if you seldom bother to explain yourself. In this instance I feel your comment to be in very poor taste. It shows a lack of empathy that is completely at odds with the Zen-like persona you present as being yourself on this forum.

A human being who had volunteered his time to help people was killed in an incredibly barbaric fashion by savages intent on making a political point. It makes no difference if it was a white British man murdered whilst delivering aid in Syria or say a Muslim Malaysian murdered whilst delivering aid in West Africa. The crime is uttely abhorrent.

As a Brit the horror of Alan Henning's murder is particularly galling in that it appears to have been carried out by a fellow Brit. How can my country, a country that has bent over backwards to embrace multiculturalism and ethnic differences, have created a monster with such a hatred for all that Britain has to offer that he sees this as the right path? (It's a rhetorical question BTW).

RIP Alan, the tragedy of your death will harden the resolve of those tasked with destroying the Islamic State. The ultimate beneficiaries will be the ones you set out to help.

My thoughts go out to his family.

Multiculturalism is a failed experiment and sooner the powers that be admit that the better.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Multiculturalism is a failed experiment and sooner the powers that be admit that the better.

Yep.
Best to eliminate all those people.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

White English-speaking people are more important and valuable to the world.

Quite, not to mention relatively more civilised.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Multiculturalism is a failed experiment and sooner the powers that be admit that the better.

Yep.
Best to eliminate all those people.

They are doing it themselves.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

fellow Brit

There's nothing British about them; never was; never will be.

Alas, we are a freedom-loving country, and that means it's hard to prevent people from going to these places - choosing to risk it all for primitive societies that may not show any gratitude for it, is the road to hell & good intentions...

That's not to say it's not appalling and disgusting, and as close to the definition of evil as can be imagined, but why are people talking themselves into going to these places of 4-horsemen-like apocalypse? Do they just railroad their families into accepting it?

There is no empire to enforce civilisation any more. They can't save the people there, they can only delay the inevitable; they can't assuage their own guilt and self-loathing that they live in a more civilised place; they are walking into situations where the outcomes can only lead to further polarisation... which suits politicised lefty charities.

I wish people would do some kind of training course on the parts of the world they're planning on going to rather than just digesting the media narrative and left-wing charity propaganda and whipping themselves up into a frenzy of concern, not thinking about the potential mess they may leave behind for others, and not just their families.

It seems clear now that the consequence of decades of left-wing shit, is chaos in the most volatile parts of the world, and a volatile immigrant population that has now become a defacto risk to manage - the stuff that happens far away that was once no real threat to life in the civilised world, is now a threat, thanks to mass immigration.

We now a situation where we have to act; we have to get involved; and we have to commit to long-term global militarism - the legacy of those who would no doubt insist we get rid of nukes, and have open borders, and "celebrate diversity". Thanks for that.

Best start brushing up on your Koran...

Things to come in the beloved West.

Originally Posted by Roobarb

As a Brit the horror of Alan Henning's murder is particularly galling in that it appears to have been carried out by a fellow Brit.

Is there actually any firm evidence that the person was in fact British?

Originally Posted by Neverna

Originally Posted by Roobarb

As a Brit the horror of Alan Henning's murder is particularly galling in that it appears to have been carried out by a fellow Brit.

Is there actually any firm evidence that the person was in fact British?

You know what they say, Muslim first, British second.
These guys have no allegiance to Britain.

Originally Posted by Roobarb

How can my country, a country that has bent over backwards to embrace multiculturalism and ethnic differences, have created a monster with such a hatred for all that Britain has to offer that he sees this as the right path? (It's a rhetorical question BTW).

The horrible cvnts see kindness as a weakness.

Originally Posted by Roobarb

How can my country, a country that has bent over backwards to embrace multiculturalism and ethnic differences, have created a monster with such a hatred for all that Britain has to offer

By bending over backwards to embrace multiculturalism and considering it a good thing.

He was an idiot and irresponsible too, he had a job , a wife and children but goes off on trips to deliver 'aid' to some dump.
Captured on his his 4th trip , over Christmas too - why wasn't he at home with his family ?.
He said it was ''important to make sure aid was going to "the right people".''
Yeah like like he could ensure that .
If he felt so benevolent why not do charity work at home; maybe offer to do the gardening or clear the ice for old people or something .

This same fool no doubt loved and voted for open borders and mass immigration .
He is a good argument against one man one vote .

Ironic one of the immigrants he invited into Britain murders him .

If 30 years ago he and the other PC clowns had voted for a nationalist party , the immigrant than killed him would never have made it to UK and would instead have been born in Pakistan and gone on to be a goat herder or something .

If you don't mind I'll save my sympathy and RIP for a more worth cause.


Here's a photo of him and his mates in Britain , fully embracing multiculturalism he is, though, on seconds thoughts it's more of him and a new mono culture that has taken over an inner city .

Jeff's on the lao khao again

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Multiculturalism is a failed experiment and sooner the powers that be admit that the better.

Yep.
Best to eliminate all those people.

Originally Posted by blue

Ironic one of the immigrants he invited into Britain murders him .

So you know the identity? Name and birthplace? A friend or acquaintance of Alan Henning? Post the details, bluey. Don't be shy.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Originally Posted by blue

Ironic one of the immigrants he invited into Britain murders him .

So you know the identity? Name and birthplace? A friend or acquaintance of Alan Henning? Post the details, bluey. Don't be shy.

Don't be silly, no one knows his Id as he's wearing a hijab- , it's his voice that gives him away, but all 'British' Pakistans sound the same.
I know for a fact there are 100's of British immigrants in Syria- I read it in The Daily Mail.
The mob he is part of has been given the the nick name The Beatles and he John, by the Syrians. They would not have called them that if they were from Bangladesh would they .

Originally Posted by blue

Originally Posted by Neverna

Originally Posted by blue

Ironic one of the immigrants he invited into Britain murders him .

So you know the identity? Name and birthplace? A friend or acquaintance of Alan Henning? Post the details, bluey. Don't be shy.

Don't be silly, no one knows his Id as he's wearing a hijab

Wow I didn't know he was a tranny.