The second British hostage that the Islamic State is threatening to behead is 47-year-old Manchester taxi driver Alan Henning who had traveled to Syria to help refugees. The chilling video showing David Haines decapitation showed the masked militant known as Jihadi Johne holding Henning and warning that he is next in line.
The latest developments have dashed hopes that Henning, working for a Muslim charity, would be released. Henning is a father of two with no formal background in humanitarian aid work but a lot of enthusiasm and drive. Nicknamed “Gadget” because he loved technology and known for his sense of humor.
Personal photos featuring Henning were released by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on Sunday following his family’s request.
Henning had raised funds to purchase medical equipment for a hospital at Idlib in north-west Syria and had insisted on joining the convoy to Syria rather than spending Christmas with his wife and two teenage daughters in Eccles, Greater Manchester.
“Alan is a man who is full of compassion and we are just praying to Allah that he is released safe and sound,” said another organizer Kasim Jameel, who had worked with Henning in fundraising. “I could tell a lot of stories about the good that Alan has done and about how, as a non Muslim he has helped Muslims who have suffered in the conflict.”
A number of Muslims who know Henning from his efforts to help the Muslim community have made statements about Haines, who is described by his friends as “a big man with a big heart”. Middle East journalist Tam Hussein told the New York Daily News: “Henning wanted to make sure aid reached the intended. Henning was genuinely trying to help the Syrian refugee crisis – nothing more. People spoke very highly of him.”
The abduction has distressed members of the Islamic group that organized the convoy and has also angered members of the Muslim community.Mohamed Elhaddad, company director of the UK Arabic Society and British convey leader described Henning as a passionate volunteer.
Following Haines’ execution, Prime Minister David Cameron held emergency talks on Sunday with senior representatives of the military and security services as well as the Foreign Office and Home Office.
Family handout photos of Henning doing refugee work –
