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Alan Henning

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This article is about the Manchester aid worker, beheaded by Islamic State. For the South African golfer, see Allan Henning.

Alan Henning
Born(1967-08-15)15 August 1967
Eccles, Lancashire, England
DisappearedDecember 2013
Al-Dana, Syria
Diedc 3 October 2014(2014-10-03) (aged 47)
Cause of deathDecapitation
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Taxicab driver
Aid worker

Alan Henning (15 August 1967 – c. 3 October 2014) was a British taxicab driver-turned-humanitarian aid worker.[1][2] He was the fourth Western hostage killed by Islamic State (IS) whose killing was publicized by IS in a beheading video.

Henning was captured during IS's occupation of the Syrian city of Al-Dana in December 2013. He was there helping provide humanitarian relief.[3] The British Foreign Office withheld news of Henning's capture while it attempted to negotiate his release.

Henning was shown at the end of David Cawthorne Haines's execution video, released on 13 September 2014, and referred to by "Jihadi John" of the Islamic State cell known as The Beatles as the next victim. A video of Henning's beheading was released by IS on 3 October 2014.[1][4] After his execution, British Prime Minister David Cameron ordered MI5, MI6, and GCHQ to track and kill or capture Jihadi John.[5][6][7]

Early life

Henning was a cab driver in Salford, Greater Manchester, in North West England before he travelled to Syria in December 2013 to be a volunteer aid worker.[8] He has also been described as being from Eccles, Greater Manchester.[9] There has also been a fundraising page set up to help his family.[10]

He was married to Barbara Livesey Henning[11] and had two children, Lucy and Adam.[12][13]

Kidnapping

Henning was part of a team of volunteers that travelled to Syria in December 2013 to deliver food and water to people affected by the Middle Eastern country's civil war. He was abducted on 26 December 2013 by masked gunmen, according to other people in his aid convoy.[14]

Beheading

A short video released by IS on 3 October 2014 shows his apparent beheading, with the executioner blaming the death on the United Kingdom for joining the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the group.[15]

Before his throat is slit,[16] Henning appears on camera, seemingly handcuffed behind his back and in a kneeling position, next to a knife-wielding masked man (Jihadi John, of the Islamic State cell known as The Beatles). Henning speaks, referencing the British Parliament's decision to participate in a coalition of countries, such as the United States, that have banded together to bomb the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.[14][17]

At the end of the video, IS shows American aid worker Peter Kassig, and threatens his life.[18]

Reactions

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the killing as "absolutely appalling" and "completely unforgivable" and vowed to do everything to defeat Islamic State. He described Henning as a man of great peace, kindness and gentleness, saying: "He went with many Muslim friends out to do no more than simply help other people. His Muslim friends will be mourning him at this special time of Eid and the whole country is mourning with them.”[19]

On 5 October prayers were said for Henning in churches across Bolton. The Bishop of Bolton Rt Rev Chris Edmondson said: “This is the most horrific, brutal and barbaric act. Leaders of Christian and Muslim faiths have universally condemned this act." Bolton Interfaith Council and Bolton Council of Mosques, who had held a vigil for Henning before news of his death, said they would continue to pray for him.[20] A special service of remembrance was held at Eccles Parish Church, attended by Henning's widow. A memorial fund had been set up, by friend and fellow aid-worker Shameela Islam-Fulfiqar, with the aim of raising £20,000.[21] By 9 October £30,000 had been raised by the Muslim community and would be used to help support Henning's family.[22] A further memorial service was held, on 12 October, at the British Muslim Heritage Centre, organised by friends and humanitarian aid colleagues of Henning and entitled "His Life and Legacy Remembered".[23]

On 7 October, former Guantánamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg claimed he had offered to intervene to help secure Henning's release.[24]

On 15 October Labour MP Barbara Keeley, speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, called for a national honour to recognise Henning's sacrifice, and for support for his widow and children. David Cameron agreed and said he would look carefully at her suggestion.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'". BBC. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Special forces hunt for IS hostage Alan Henning". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  3. ^ Harper, Tom (14 September 2014). "Alan Henning: Second British hostage in an IS beheading video named as 'kind and funny' aid worker". The Independent. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. ^ "ISIS Claims To Have Killed British Hostage Alan Henning". The WorldPost. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  5. ^ "British Prime Minister David Cameron orders spy chiefs to hunt down 'Jihadi John'". The Times of India. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  6. ^ "British PM David Cameron orders spy chiefs to hunt down 'Jihadi John'". Economic Times. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  7. ^ "David Cameron pledges to defeat 'ruthless, senseless and barbaric' Isil killers". Patrick Sawer, Tim Ross. The Telegraph. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. ^ "BBC News – Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  9. ^ Ian Cobain. "Isis video shows murder of British hostage Alan Henning". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Alan Henning RIP". Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  11. ^ "BBC News – Alan Henning's family 'numb with grief'". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  12. ^ "BBC News – Alan Henning: An ordinary man who wanted to help Syrians". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Alan Henning's family 'numb with grief'". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  14. ^ a b "ISIS video claims to show beheading of Alan Henning; American threatened". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  15. ^ "British hostage Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Isis beheads British aid worker Alan Henning". The Times. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  17. ^ "BBC News – Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  18. ^ "ISIS video claims to show beheading of Alan Henning – CNN". CNN. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Alan Henning murder: David Cameron vows to defeat ISIS". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Prayers for murdered aid worker Alan Henning". The Bolton News. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Alan Henning memorial service held". Telegraph.co.uk. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  22. ^ Muslim community in Bolton raised £30,000 in memory of British aid worker, independent.co.uk; accessed 11 October 2014.
  23. ^ "BBC News - Alan Henning memorial service held in Manchester". BBC News.
  24. ^ "Moazzam Begg: I offered to help secure release of Alan Henning". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  25. ^ "BBC News - Cameron on Alan Henning: 'We have lost a local hero'". BBC News.
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