Islamic State Purportedly Executes British Hostage David Haines

A frame grab from a video released by the Islamic State on 14 September shows an IS militant holding a knife before purportedly executing British journalist David Cawthorne Haines. Photo by EPA.

Islamic State jihadists have released a video on Saturday, which they claim shows the beheading of a British aid worker, David Haines, who has been held hostage since his abduction last year.

The masked man in the latest video released across social media claims that 44-year-old Haines was killed because of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge to arm Kurdish forces in order to battle the jihadist group, according to international media outlet reports.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said: “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. We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes."

The Foreign Office is working to verify the video, which begins with a clip of PM David Cameron and then features a man who appears to be Haines, kneeling in front of a masked man holding a knife.

The victim says: "My name is David Cawthorne Haines. I would like to declare that I hold you, David Cameron, entirely responsible for my execution,“ adding that Cameron had entered into a coalition with the US against the Islamic State "just as your predecessor Tony Blair did," the BBC informs.

ISIS have killed two US hostages in recent weeks, posting video evidence on the internet. They threatened to kill Haines during a video showing the murder of US journalist Steven Sotloff earlier in September. The jihadists have also killed US journalist, James Foley, last month.

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