Alan Henning 'killed by Islamic State'

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

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.

Analysis

Frank Gardner, security correspondent, BBC News

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'

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 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."

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.