This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/alan-henning-friends-tell-of-disbelief-at-isis-threat-to-behead-family-man-with-a-heart-of-gold-9733978.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Alan Henning: Friends tell of disbelief at Isis threat to behead 'family man with a heart of gold' | Alan Henning: Friends tell of disbelief at Isis threat to behead 'family man with a heart of gold' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Friends of Alan Henning, the British aid volunteer being held hostage by Islamic State (Isis) militants in Syria, have told of their disbelief at his imprisonment. | Friends of Alan Henning, the British aid volunteer being held hostage by Islamic State (Isis) militants in Syria, have told of their disbelief at his imprisonment. |
| The 47-year-old taxi driver had travelled from home with his wife and children in Salford as a charity volunteer to help refugees caught up in the country's civil war. | The 47-year-old taxi driver had travelled from home with his wife and children in Salford as a charity volunteer to help refugees caught up in the country's civil war. |
| His abduction was not made public until Saturday night, when he was paraded in front of cameras in an Isis video showing the murder of fellow British hostage David Haines. | His abduction was not made public until Saturday night, when he was paraded in front of cameras in an Isis video showing the murder of fellow British hostage David Haines. |
| The masked murderer, known as “jihadi John” threatened to kill Mr Henning next if David Cameron did not heed Isis demands to stop military action against the group. | The masked murderer, known as “jihadi John” threatened to kill Mr Henning next if David Cameron did not heed Isis demands to stop military action against the group. |
| Friends and neighbours did not know of his capture until the footage emerged. | Friends and neighbours did not know of his capture until the footage emerged. |
| Tracy Morrison, a neighbour, told Sky News people knew he was away in Syria but assumed he was still there working safely. | Tracy Morrison, a neighbour, told Sky News people knew he was away in Syria but assumed he was still there working safely. |
| Isis militants threatened to kill Mr Henning in a video showing the murder of David Haines (pictured) “Then it just on the news yesterday, everyone's in complete shock, no one can believe it,” she said. | |
| "He's just a typical family man that would do anything for his children and his wife.” | "He's just a typical family man that would do anything for his children and his wife.” |
| Mr Henning was described a friendly man with a “heart of gold" who was moved by the plight of people caught up in the Syrian civil war. | |
| He reportedly ignored warnings to return to the country for a second time because of his determination to help. | He reportedly ignored warnings to return to the country for a second time because of his determination to help. |
| "People are devastated, they really, really are,“ his friend Martin Shedwick told Sky News. | "People are devastated, they really, really are,“ his friend Martin Shedwick told Sky News. |
| "They're walking around with their heads numb. | "They're walking around with their heads numb. |
| “He's just a taxi driver with a heart of gold who basically wanted to help people.” | “He's just a taxi driver with a heart of gold who basically wanted to help people.” |
| Mr Henning's sister, Gill Kenyon, from Bury, Lancashire, posted a picture with her brother when they were children on Twitter to mark his birthday in August. | Mr Henning's sister, Gill Kenyon, from Bury, Lancashire, posted a picture with her brother when they were children on Twitter to mark his birthday in August. |
| A accompanying message read: “Happy 47th birthday to my little bro Gadget/Alan Henning. Can't wait to have a party on your return, love you bro xx.” | A accompanying message read: “Happy 47th birthday to my little bro Gadget/Alan Henning. Can't wait to have a party on your return, love you bro xx.” |
| He was captured while travelling through Syria in Al Dana, near Aleppo, with an aid convoy in December. | He was captured while travelling through Syria in Al Dana, near Aleppo, with an aid convoy in December. |
| While fellow British aid workers who were Muslims were freed, according to freelance journalist Tam Hussein, Mr Henning was taken away. | While fellow British aid workers who were Muslims were freed, according to freelance journalist Tam Hussein, Mr Henning was taken away. |
| David Cameron called Mr Henning a “British hero” and vowed to “hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice”. | David Cameron called Mr Henning a “British hero” and vowed to “hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice”. |
| Calling Isis "monsters", the Prime Minister said he would take “whatever steps are necessary” to destroy the group and has not ruled out British air strikes in Iraq or Syria. | Calling Isis "monsters", the Prime Minister said he would take “whatever steps are necessary” to destroy the group and has not ruled out British air strikes in Iraq or Syria. |