This is just tragic. Today, the Islamic State has reportedly executed Alan Henning, a British national, who was captured while on a humanitarian mission in Syria. Right now, U.S. officials are studying the video claiming to show Henning’s beheading by ISIS. Authentication is expected soon (via CNN):
The White House released a statement Friday condemning the beheading of UK citizen Alan Henning by ISIS, also referred to as ISIL."Mr. Henning worked to help improve the lives of the Syrian people and his death is a great loss for them, for his family and the people of the United Kingdom," the statement said.
"Standing together with our UK friends and allies, we will work to bring the perpetrators of Alan's murder -- as well as the murders of Jim Foley, Steven Sotloff and David Haines -- to justice. Standing together with a broad coalition of allies and partners, we will continue taking decisive action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL."
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A short video released by ISIS on Friday shows the apparent beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.
Before he is killed, Henning speaks to the camera, referencing the British Parliament's decision to join the bombing campaign against ISIS. At the end of the video, ISIS shows an American aid worker, Peter Kassig, and threatens his life.
There is no reason to believe that the video is not authentic, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN, adding that U.S. officials are studying it.
A taxi driver from near Manchester, England, Alan Henning was part of a team of volunteers that traveled to Syria in December 2013 to deliver food and water to people affected by the Middle Eastern country's devastating civil war.
He was abducted the day after Christmas by masked gunmen, according to other people in the aid convoy.
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Last September, Henning’s wife begged ISIS to release her husband, saying he was a “peaceful, selfless man" helping those in need in Syria.
Peter Kassig, an American and former Army Ranger, is said to be shown in the video, but is reportedly alive, according to his family. Kassig was also doing aid work in the Middle East. He started a small medical company called Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA), which is based out of Turkey. He disappeared while out on a relief effort in October 2013–and his family kept quiet about his abduction in order to secure his release, according to the New York Daily News. Many are worried that he could be ISIS' next victim.
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