Islamic State militants fighting in Iraq and Syria
released a video on Saturday which purported to show the beheading of
British aid worker David Haines.
Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. However, the images were
consistent with that of the filmed executions of two American journalists,
James Foley and Steven Sotloff, in the past month.
Haines, a 44-year-old father of two from Perth in Scotland, was kidnapped
last year while working for the French agency ACTED.
The video entitled, "A Message to the Allies of America," opened with UK
Prime Minister David Cameron talking about working with the Iraqi
government and allied Kurdish Peshmerga forces to defeat Islamic State.
"This British man has to pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the
Peshmerga against the Islamic State," said a masked man dressed in black
with a British accent, standing over Haines, who was shown kneeling and
wearing an orange jumpsuit.
The video then showed the beheading of the kneeling man.
At the end of the video, another hostage was shown and the masked man said
he would be killed if Cameron continues to support the fight against Islamic
State.
Cameron condemned the killing and said he would bring the killers to justice.
"This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an
act of pure evil. My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have
shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal," he said in
a statement released by Downing Street.
"We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure
they face justice, however long it takes."
In Washington, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin
Hayden said she had no comment on the video and referred queries to the
British government.
In the video, Haines also spoke, saying Cameron was responsible for his
execution. "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States
against the Islamic State, just as your predecessor, Tony Blair, did," he said.
"Following a trend amongst our British Prime Ministers who can't find the
courage to say no to the Americans. Unfortunately, it is we, the British public,
that will in the end pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."
Foley and Sotloff made similar speeches to U.S. President Barack Obama
which have been dismissed as scripted by Islamic State and delivered under
duress.
The purported executioner appeared to be the same British-accented man who
appeared in videos with Foley and Sotloff, and it showed a similar desert
setting. In both videos, the captives wore orange jumpsuits.
released a video on Saturday which purported to show the beheading of
British aid worker David Haines.
Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. However, the images were
consistent with that of the filmed executions of two American journalists,
James Foley and Steven Sotloff, in the past month.
Haines, a 44-year-old father of two from Perth in Scotland, was kidnapped
last year while working for the French agency ACTED.
The video entitled, "A Message to the Allies of America," opened with UK
Prime Minister David Cameron talking about working with the Iraqi
government and allied Kurdish Peshmerga forces to defeat Islamic State.
"This British man has to pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the
Peshmerga against the Islamic State," said a masked man dressed in black
with a British accent, standing over Haines, who was shown kneeling and
wearing an orange jumpsuit.
The video then showed the beheading of the kneeling man.
At the end of the video, another hostage was shown and the masked man said
he would be killed if Cameron continues to support the fight against Islamic
State.
Cameron condemned the killing and said he would bring the killers to justice.
"This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an
act of pure evil. My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have
shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal," he said in
a statement released by Downing Street.
"We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure
they face justice, however long it takes."
In Washington, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin
Hayden said she had no comment on the video and referred queries to the
British government.
In the video, Haines also spoke, saying Cameron was responsible for his
execution. "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States
against the Islamic State, just as your predecessor, Tony Blair, did," he said.
"Following a trend amongst our British Prime Ministers who can't find the
courage to say no to the Americans. Unfortunately, it is we, the British public,
that will in the end pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."
Foley and Sotloff made similar speeches to U.S. President Barack Obama
which have been dismissed as scripted by Islamic State and delivered under
duress.
The purported executioner appeared to be the same British-accented man who
appeared in videos with Foley and Sotloff, and it showed a similar desert
setting. In both videos, the captives wore orange jumpsuits.
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