Alan Henning

On 1 April 2020, it was reported that the charity Henning had worked for failed in their duty to safeguard Henning and their other volunteers while working in Syria.

When he was captured, Henning was a driver for the Worcester-based charity Al-Fatiha Global [2]. Henning was shown at the end of David Cawthorne Haines's execution video, released on 13 September 2014, and was referred to as being the next victim by Mohammed Emwazi, the media described as "Jihadi John" of the ISIL cell described as The Beatles. A video of Henning's beheading was released on 3 October 2014. In an al-Qaeda magazine interview, spokesman Adam Gadahn condemned the beheading. After his murder, British Prime Minister David Cameron ordered MI5, MI6, and GCHQ to track and kill or capture the killer. Emwazi was killed in a drone strike in 2015.

A video released on 3 October 2014 shows his apparent beheading; the executioner blames it on the UK for its joining the U.S.-led bombing campaign against ISIS.

On 5 October 2014, prayers were said for Henning in churches across Bolton. The Bishop of Bolton Rt Rev Chris Edmondson said: "This is the most horrific, brutal and barbaric act. Leaders of Christian and Muslim faiths have universally condemned this act." Bolton Interfaith Council and Bolton Council of Mosques, who had held a vigil for Henning before news of his death, said they would continue to pray for him. A special service of remembrance was held at Eccles Parish Church, attended by Henning's widow. A memorial fund had been set up, by friend and fellow aid-worker Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, with the aim of raising £20,000. By 9 October 2014, £30,000 had been raised by the Muslim community and would be used to help support Henning's family. A further memorial service was held on 12 October at the British Muslim Heritage Centre, organised by friends and humanitarian aid colleagues of Henning, attracting over 600 people.

On 15 October 2014, Labour MP Barbara Keeley, speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, called for a national honour to recognise Henning's sacrifice, and for support for his widow and children. David Cameron agreed and said he would look carefully at her suggestion.

Henning was captured during ISIL's occupation of the Syrian city of Al-Dana in December 2013. He was there helping provide humanitarian relief. The British Foreign Office withheld news of Henning's capture while it attempted to negotiate his release.

Henning was a cab driver in Salford, Greater Manchester, in North West England before he travelled to Syria in December 2013 to be a volunteer aid worker. He lived in Eccles, Greater Manchester. There has also been a fundraising page set up to help his family.

In December 2013, Henning was part of a team of volunteers delivering goods and funds to people affected by Syria's civil war. He was abducted on 26 December 2013 by masked gunmen, according to other people in his aid convoy.

Alan Henning (15 August 1967 – c. 3 October 2014 ) was an English taxicab driver-turned-volunteer humanitarian aid worker. He was the fourth Western hostage killed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) whose killing was publicised in a beheading video.