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Wife of hostage Alan Henning urges IS captors to release him

Barbara Henning, the wife of British hostage Alan Henning, has urged his Islamic State captors to "please release him, we need him back home".

The 47-year-old aid worker was captured by militants in Syria last year and has been threatened with death by his Islamic State captors.

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Wife's message to her husband's Islamic State captors

The wife of British aid worker Alan Henning has recorded a message for Islamic State - her husband's captors - urging them to spare his life.

Barbara Henning told BBC News that her call was joined by "Muslims across the globe" and hoped that the militants would "open their hearts and minds to the truth about Alan's humanitarian motives".

She added: "Some say 'wrong time, wrong place'. Alan was volunteering with his Muslim friends to help the people of Syria. He was in the right place doing the right thing".

Fears grow for British hostage Alan Henning ahead of airstrikes in Iraq

There are fears over the consequences of the British airstrikes in Iraq for the British hostage Alan Henning.

Henning, from Manchester, is still being held by Islamic State militants operating in Iraq and Syria.

Mosques across the North West of England have issued a joint plea for mercy to his captors, for the taxi driver they call "Our local hero".

ITV News Correspondent Damon Green reports.

Hammond: Henning was 'doing good' in Syria

The Foreign Secretary has condemned the continuing hostage situation involving British aid worker Alan Henning, 47, after militants sent an audio recording to his wife Barbara in which he pleads for his life..

What we do know is Alan Henning was out there simply to help. He was a humanitarian worker who went with an aid convoy organised by British Muslim groups to provide support to refugees in Syria.

He was doing good and I think it speaks volumes about ISIL that this is the way they are treating somebody who went out there to help their people and support their communities in their time of need.

– Philip Hammond

More: PM: 'No doubt' Islamic State planning terror in Europe

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Wife 'receives audio' of Alan Henning 'pleading for his life'

The wife of Alan Henning has said in a statement that she has received audio of him pleading for his life.

Alan Henning pictured delivering aid to Syria, in a picture released by his family. Credit: Family handout

She said:

I am Barbara Henning the wife of Alan Henning. I have a further message for Islamic State.

An audio file of Alan pleading for his life has just been received by me. I and people representing me continue to reach out to those holding Alan. Islamic State continue to ignore our pleas to open dialogue.I have seen Muslims across the globe question Islamic State over Alan’s fate.

The voices of the people have spoken out loud and clear. He was working with Muslims to help the most vulnerable within Syria. Nothing has changed. He went to Syria to help his Muslim friends deliver much needed aid.

We are at a loss why those leading Islamic State cannot open their hearts and minds to the facts surrounding Alan’s imprisonment and why they continue to threaten his life.

I have been told that he has been to a Sharia Court and found innocent of being a spy and declared to be no threat. I implore Islamic State to abide by the decisions of their own justice system. Please release Alan.

– Barbara Henning

ITV News' Diplomatic Correspondent John Ray has been speaking to Alan Henning's family about their ordeal.

Alan Henning's wife pleads with IS to free him

The wife of the British hostage Alan Henning has today pleaded with his captors to free her husband. In a message to the Islamic State terror group, Barbara Henning describes him as "a peaceful, selfless man" whose purpose in taking an aid convoy to Syria was "a sheer act of compassion."

A new video obtained by ITV News shows the former taxi driver delivering aid on Christmas day, Ronke Phillips reports.

Iran 'ready to work with US to tackle Islamic State'

Iran is willing to work with the US to help defeat Islamic State (IS) militants, a senior Iranian government source has told Reuters.

However, Tehran would like to see more flexibility over its nuclear programme in exchange for helping Western powers tackle IS.

"Iran is a very influential country in the region and can help in the fight against the ISIL (IS) terrorists ... but it is a two-way street. You give something, you take something," the source was quoted as saying.

However, a Western diplomatic source said the countries negotiating over Tehran's nuclear programme were "determined not to bring the other subjects to the nuclear negotiations table".

Read: Wife urges IS to release 'peaceful, selfless' Henning

Hostage's wife: Don't allow world to see Alan dying

The wife of British hostage Alan Henning has pleaded with Islamic State militants not to "allow the world to see a man like Alan dying".

Ina statement released through the Foreign Office, Mr Henning's wife Barbara said she has sent messages to IS urging them to release her husband but has received no response.

I am Barbara Henning the wife of Alan Henning.

Alan was taken prisoner last December and is being held by the Islamic State.

Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need.

When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need.

His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion.

I cannot see how it could assist any State's cause to allow the world to see a man like Alan dying.

I have been trying to communicate with the Islamic State and the people holding Alan. I have sent some really important messages but they have not been responded to.

I pray that the people holding Alan respond to my messages and contact me before it is too late.

When they hear this message I implore the people of the Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband Alan Henning.

– Barbara Henning
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