Alan Henning, the Briton murdered by Isil, was not at all concerned about his fate when he was kidnapped, laughing and joking with his fellow detainees amid his certainty that he was soon to be freed, a fellow detainee has said.
In the first detailed account of Mr Henning's capture and initial imprisonment, it has emerged that the taxi driver was subjected to night-time interrogation sessions by a masked British jihadist and a high-ranking Isil official.
But Mr Henning, who had travelled to Syria as part of a Muslim aid convoy, did not lose the compassion and good humour for which he was remembered at a memorial service yesterday. He broke down in tears of empathy when he was moved away from the other prisoners - because he was sure he was to be freed, while the others remained behind bars.
He formed a bond with his fellow captives after his kidnapping on Boxing Day last year - joking with them about his snoring and the food.
'Alan didn't like the prison food they gave us. He joked that people can eat whatever they like in a British prison,' recalled Seif al-Idlibi, an opposition activist who was detained with Mr Henning.
'He was very relaxed. He didn't understand who his captors were and he was convinced he would be released soon.'
Instead, on Friday, a video was released showing his beheading by a man with a British accent known as Jihadi John.
Meanwhile, Britain has refused to comment on reports that a ransom was paid to free another British man, David Bolam, held hostage by militants in Libya.
'We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family,' said the British Foreign Office.
Mr Bolam was taken hostage in May and had in August featured in a video posted online in which he pleaded for his life.
The BBC reported that his release was secured through the payment of a ransom, facilitated by local political factions.
Irish Independent
Posted by Unknown on Monday, October 6, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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