Responding to the news, the Prime Minister said:

The brutal murder of Alan Henning by ISIL shows just how barbaric and repulsive these terrorists are.

My thoughts and prayers tonight are with Alan’s wife Barbara, their children and all those who loved him.

Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need. The fact that he was taken hostage when trying to help others and now murdered demonstrates that there are no limits to the depravity of these ISIL terrorists.

We will do all we can to hunt down these murderers and bring them to justice.