The White House released a statement Friday condemning the beheading of UK citizen Alan Henning by ISIS, also referred to as ISIL. "Mr. Henning worked to help improve the lives of the Syrian people and his death is a great loss for them, for his family and the people of the United Kingdom," the statement said.
"Standing together with our UK friends and allies, we will work to bring the perpetrators of Alan's murder -- as well as the murders of Jim Foley, Steven Sotloff and David Haines -- to justice. Standing together with a broad coalition of allies and partners, we will continue taking decisive action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL."
The parents of Peter Kassig confirmed Friday that their son, "who was doing humanitarian work in Syria, is being held captive." The family did not offer any other information. Kassig, an American aid worker, is shown on an ISIS video that purports to show the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.
A short video released by ISIS on Friday shows the apparent beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.
Before he is killed, Henning speaks to the camera, referencing the British Parliament's decision to join the bombing campaign against ISIS. At the end of the video, ISIS shows an American aid worker, Peter Kassig, and threatens his life.
There is no reason to believe that the video is not authentic, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN, adding that U.S. officials are studying it.
taxi driver from near Manchester, England, Alan Henning was part of a team of volunteers that traveled to Syria in December 2013 to deliver food and water to people affected by the Middle Eastern country's devastating civil war.