U.N. Security Council Condemns 'Heinous' Henning Murder
The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" murder of British hostage Alan Henning, shown in a video with an Islamic State fighter.
In a unanimous statement issued late Friday, the 15-member council said the "continued acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them, but rather stiffen their resolve" to counter the jihadists.
Henning, from Manchester in northwest England, became the fourth Western hostage murdered by IS militants since August and the second Briton, after aid worker David Haines.
The 47-year-old, who volunteered to help drive an aid convoy to Syria for Muslim charity Aid4Syria, was kidnapped 10 months ago.
"This crime is a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers volunteer humanitarian personnel face every day in Syria. It also once again demonstrates the brutality of ISIL, which is responsible for thousands of abuses against the Syrian and Iraqi people."
The statement also demanded the release of all hostages held by the Islamic militants and warned that the perpetrators of "these reprehensible acts of terrorism" would face justice.
In a video released Friday by the group in response to U.S.-led air strikes against it, a masked IS fighter beheads Henning and threatens a U.S. captive, aid worker Peter Kassig.
American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were also executed by IS militants who posted videos of the murders.
Source: Agence France Presse
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