'Pure evil' British aid worker killed by ISIL as Australia deploys military to region
- 10 years ago
The murder of British aid worker, 44-year-old father of two, David Haines, by Islamic State militants prompted Prime Minister David Cameron to describe the killing as an “act of pure evil.”
The victims brother Mike Haines said he “was loved by all his family.”
David Cameron returned to Downing Street soon after the video was released and will chair an emergency Cobra meeting later.
David Haines was taken hostage in Syria last year and worked for the French aid organisation Acted.
Militants have killed two US hostages in recent weeks and threatened to murder another British hostage currently held.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, in response to a formal request from the United States, said Australia would deploy military hardware and personal to the United Arab Emirates to back US airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.
“The beheading of a British aid worker is further demonstration that this particular terrorist group does not just do evil, but exults in doing evil. The government has decided to prepare and to deploy to the United Arab Emirates, a military force, that could, subject to further decisions contribute to military operations in Iraq,” he said.
Australia is expected to send combat and surveillance aircraft backed by 600 staff.
The victims brother Mike Haines said he “was loved by all his family.”
David Cameron returned to Downing Street soon after the video was released and will chair an emergency Cobra meeting later.
David Haines was taken hostage in Syria last year and worked for the French aid organisation Acted.
Militants have killed two US hostages in recent weeks and threatened to murder another British hostage currently held.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, in response to a formal request from the United States, said Australia would deploy military hardware and personal to the United Arab Emirates to back US airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.
“The beheading of a British aid worker is further demonstration that this particular terrorist group does not just do evil, but exults in doing evil. The government has decided to prepare and to deploy to the United Arab Emirates, a military force, that could, subject to further decisions contribute to military operations in Iraq,” he said.
Australia is expected to send combat and surveillance aircraft backed by 600 staff.