Alan Henning: Prayers said for murdered British hostage

A memorial service will be held later for the British taxi driver kidnapped in Syria and killed by Islamic State.


A video appearing to show the beheading of Alan Henning, 47, was posted online by the militant group on Friday.


The Rt Rev David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester, said the service in Mr Henning's home town of Eccles would 'mark Alan's life' and the good he did.


Mr Henning, whose family said they were 'numb with grief', was delivering aid when he was kidnapped in December 2013.


Speaking about the service to be held at Eccles Parish Church, Bishop Walker said: 'Anybody of any faith or none is welcome to be there, simply to mark the day, to mark that Alan's life has been brought so tragically to an end.'


He said the service would mark the 'good that he did' and would bring people together to support Mr Henning's family.



In a statement after Mr Henning's death, his widow Barbara and their two children said: 'Alan was a decent, caring human being.


'His interest was in the welfare of others.


'He will be remembered for this and we as a family are extremely proud of him and what he achieved and the people he helped.'


Mrs Henning's brother, Colin Livesey, described the killers as 'scum' and said the family had lost a 'great person'.


He also said the British government could have done more for Mr Henning in the months since he was kidnapped.


Mr Henning was on his fourth aid mission to Syria when he was taken hostage minutes after arriving in the country.


Prime Minister David Cameron described the murder as 'completely unforgivable' and vowed the UK would do all it could to find those responsible.


He described Mr Henning as a 'kind, gentle, compassionate and caring man'.


Islamic State (IS) has previously released videos showing the apparent beheading of two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker Mr Haines.


RAF strikes


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


The footage ends with an IS fighter threatening a man they identify as American Peter Kassig, an aid worker.


Mr Kassig's family, who said he had converted to Islam and referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig, appealed to IS to 'show mercy' and release him.


As in previous IS videos, the one of Mr Henning features a jihadist who, from his accent, appears to be from Britain.


RAF Tornados first hit IS targets on Tuesday, four days after Parliament authorised UK involvement in an international military campaign.


IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and declared what it describes as a caliphate in the areas it has taken.


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