Security Council condemns 'heinous and cowardly murder' of British aid worker

Video purportedly showing an ISIL fighter beheading  Henning surfaced earlier on Friday, spurring the Security Council to issue a late evening statement.

“This crime is a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers volunteer humanitarian personnel face every day in Syria,” said Ambassador María Cristina Perceval of Argentina, whose country holds the Security Council Presidency for the month of October.

She added that the killing “once again demonstrates the brutality” of the group, which is responsible for thousands of abuses against the Syrian and Iraqi people.

The 15-members of the Council again stressed that ISIL “must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out.”

“The members of the Council further emphasized that such continued acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them, but rather stiffen their resolve” that Member States and institutions, including those in the region, must come together to counter such terrorist groups.

Perceval, reading the statement on behalf of the Council, also demanded the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all held hostage by ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida.

She called for those responsible for “these reprehensible acts of terrorism” to be brought to justice.

The Council “stressed that those responsible for the killing of Alan Henning shall be held accountable,” and urged Member States to cooperate with the United Kingdom and all relevant authorities in this regard.

A wide view of the Security Council in session (file photo). UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras