David Cameron vows to “hunt down” Islamic State killers after Alan Henning murder

David Cameron has vowed to hunt down the IS murderers of British aid volunteer Alan Henning.

 

The Prime Minister said: 

 

"The brutal murder of Alan Henning by Isil [IS] shows just how barbaric and repulsive these terrorists are. My thoughts and prayers tonight are with Alan’s wife Barbara, their children and all those who loved him.

 

"Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need. The fact that he was taken hostage when trying to help others demonstrates that there are no limits to the depravity of these Isil terrorists.

 

"We will do all we can to hunt down these murderers and bring them to justice."

The killing is the third murder by the group after US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, Scottish aid worker David Haines were killed. A Frenchman, Hervé Gourdel, was murdered by Jund al-Khalifa, a group linked to IS.

 

Many British Muslims were appalled by the events, with the Islamic Society of Britain unequivocal in its response. It tweeted:

 

ISIL is a vile and evil death cult, killing an innocent man, who went to help others, during the sacred days of Hajj. 

 

Other individuals say that they view any muslims travelling to join IS to be traitors to Islam and Britain. 

 

The video follows the same format as the previous three, with Henning on his knees in an orange jumpsuit reciting a message. He says  “I am Alan Henning. Because of our parliament’s decision to attack the Islamic State, I – as a member of the British public – will now pay the price for that decision.”

 

Then a voice cuts in, saying “the blood of David Haines was on your hands, Cameron. Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands of the British parliament.”

 

The video then shows the beginning of Henning's murder before cutting away. 

 

At the finish, a voice threatens a young US hostage, named by the terrorists as Peter Edward Kassig.  “[Barack] Obama, you have started your aerial bombardment in Sham [Syria and Iraq] which keeps on striking our people. So it’s only right we continue to strike the necks of your people.”

 

Obama said the US would continue to attack IS. 

 

Alan Henning was a 47-year-old taxi driver from Eccles in Greater Manchester. He was captured nine months ago when he voluntarily raised money and travelled to Syria on an aid mission.