Alice Gross: Police Search Property Near Canal

Police investigating the disappearance of teenager Alice Gross are searching a former west London home of suspect Arnis Zalkalns.

Scotland Yard said forensic officers were searching the house in Boston Manor Road, in Hanwell.

The owner of the house, Radoslav Andric, said he last saw Zalkalns at the rental property two days before Alice went missing on August 28.

Alice was last seen on August 28 walking across a bridge over the canal

Mr Andric said the Latvian builder moved out more than a year ago, but had returned to see friends.

Police have recovered the suspect's red Trek bicycle from the property.

Zalkalns was seen on CCTV footage cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal 15 minutes after the last sighting of Alice.

Alice went missing while walking near the Grand Union Canal

Detectives believe he is likely to have seen the 14-year-old as they were both going north along the canal towpath.

The 41-year-old went missing a week after Alice disappeared.

Zalkalns was jailed in his native country in the late 1990s for murdering his wife and burying her in a forest following a dispute about her sexuality.

Officers remove a bicycle from the house in Boston Manor Road

Sky's Senior News Correspondent David Bowden said Zalkalns claimed at his trial in 1998 that he feared for the safety of their small child.

"He served seven or eight years - there is some discrepancy about that - and he came here in 2007," Bowden said.

It has also emerged Zalkalns was arrested in London on suspicion of indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2009, but was never charged.

Police have formally named Arnis Zalkalns as a suspect

Forensic police have also searched Zalkalns' semi-detached house in Ealing where armed officers have been seen standing guard.

Zalkalns has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone since September 3, nor has he returned home to his partner and young child.

He is described as white, 5'10", of stocky build and with dark brown hair that he normally wears tied in a pony tail.

Police search the garden of Zalkalns' semi-detached house in Ealing

Zalkalns left his passport at home when he went missing two weeks ago.

Police said it was possible that someone is helping him by providing him with money or somewhere to stay, and warned he "clearly poses a risk to the public".

A reward of £20,000 is being offered to anyone who has information that helps detectives find Alice.

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NHS Staff Asked To Help Africa's Ebola Fight

NHS staff are being encouraged to volunteer to help with the deadly ebola virus outbreak which is continuing to spread across West Africa.

The Department of Health's chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said doctors, nurses and paramedics are among the medical staff who are needed to help contribute towards efforts to tackle the crisis.

In a letter to health service staff, Dame Sally says those who wish to help should contact the UK International Emergency Medical Register, set up to respond to large-scale international emergencies. 

British officials recently announced they were setting up a treatment centre in Kerrytown, Sierra Leone, following a direct request for help from the World Health Organisation and Sierra Leone.

The 62-bed facility will treat victims of the disease, including local and international health workers and volunteers.

Dame Sally Davies has appealed for NHS volunteers in a written letter

The Government is working with the charity Save The Children to determine how the centre will be run once it has been fully set up, Dame Sally said.

"The UK has been at the forefront of responding to the epidemic," Dame Sally wrote.

"It is acknowledged that the key to combating this epidemic is supporting in-country front line health workers and underpinning a fractured health system in Sierra Leone.

"The UK's aim is to provide the very best life-saving health service under the most challenging conditions."

The letter also urges staff to check their organisation's leave policy and states that initial help is required from those with past experience but as the situation develops those with more generic skills will be welcomed.

The West Africa outbreak has so far killed more than 2,600 people and infected around twice as many since March.

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Police Probe Glasgow Voter Fraud Allegations

Alienation Sparked Historic Scotland Poll

Updated: 12:54am UK, Friday 19 September 2014

By Adam Boulton, Sky News Presenter

The genesis of Scotland's independence vote really lies in the outcome of the 2010 General Election.

The Labour governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown broadly reflected how Scots had voted and they restored the Scottish Parliament after a 300-year adjournment.

But in 2010 Scots ended up with a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition Government, although Labour MPs had been elected in 41 out of Scotland's 59 Constituencies.

The Conservatives have just one MP north of the border.

There was a mood of alienation from Westminster politics which was ripe for exploitation.

The Scottish National Party capitalised and in the 2011 elections for the Holyrood parliament they won a remarkable overall majority in spite of a proportional representation voting system - 69 out of 129 seats.

This gave Alex Salmond, the SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister, a clear mandate to hold a referendum on Scotland's future and he began negotiations with the UK Prime Minister with whom authority to hold binding plebiscites ultimately lay.

On October 15, 2012 David Cameron and Mr Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement announcing a decisive referendum on Scotland's future.

The agreement gave Mr Salmond most of what he was asking for.

The question would be "Should Scotland be an independent country?" rather than "Should Scotland remain part of the UK?" - giving independence the traditional advantage of being a Yes campaign.

Mr Cameron insisted it should be an all-or-nothing vote by ruling out a second question offering the softer option of further devolution.

Since so-called "devo-max" is now a last-minute offer from the No side anyway, Mr Cameron will face potentially politically fatal recriminations for the way he handled these negotiations should Yes win the day.

But for most of the two years leading up to the referendum, there was a complacent assumption in London that No would prevail.

Even after Mr Salmond published his blueprint, Scotland's Future, last November the opinion polls remained static at around 60% for No and 40% for Yes.

The UK Government decided to frame the referendum as an argument for Scottish voters alone, ignoring the consequences for the rest of the UK.

Mr Cameron refused to engage in TV debates with Mr Salmond, leaving that job to Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor and a Scottish MP.

The Better Together No campaign focused on the possible pitfalls of independence rather than highlighting the advantages of union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This strategy was greatly aided by a speech from the Governor of the Bank of England this spring, pointing out the difficulties an independent Scotland would have continuing to use the pound sterling as its currency.

The currency question has been the Achilles heel of Mr Salmond's campaign.

Originally, he saw Scotland as a member of the Eurozone but abandoned that after the 2008 financial crisis.

Under his revised plans an independent Scotland would keep the Queen, the pound and most other aspects of the Union as well as membership of Nato and the EU.

Mr Salmond failed to produce compelling evidence that his putative partners would agree to his deals.

But he dismissed the doubters as "scaremongers" in a UK Government-run "Project Fear".

With just 11 days to go until polling, the mood changed dramatically for both sides.

A single opinion poll by YouGov for the Sunday Times put independence in the lead by 51% to 49%.

A shocked Mr Cameron cancelled parliamentary business to lead an emergency delegation to Scotland.

He, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg all hit the campaign trail for No.

In an emotional speech in Glasgow the Prime Minister appealed "head, heart and soul" for Scots to stick with the Union.

A stream of big businesses including Standard Life insurance, RBS and major phone companies warned of dire economic consequences if Scotland went independent.

Backed by a "vow" from the three UK party leaders, Mr Brown swung into action, promising "Scottish Home Rule" if it rejected full independence.

But by now the Yes campaign felt it had momentum behind it and brushed off negative predictions, which seemed to have little impact on the polls.

A record 97% of those eligible to vote, 4.3m people, registered for the referendum.

If Yes could turn them out, victory appeared to be in its grasp.

Yes supporters tended to be younger, poorer and more outspoken than those on the No side.

There were allegations of intimidating behaviour and a "sour atmosphere" according to Mr Darling.

But both he and Mr Salmond promised to accept the outcome even if it meant defeat for their side - and to work to re-unite the divided Scots.

:: Watch live: Scottish referendum coverage on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage is also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

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Yes Gains Put Referendum Result On Knife Edge

Early results in the Scottish referendum have led one senior member of the Westminster Government to say he believes the "United Kingdom will be safe".

However major victories in Dundee (53,620 to 39,880) and West Dunbartonshire (33,720 to 28,776) for the Yes campaign mean the race is neck-and-neck.

Voters sided with the Better Together team in the Western Isles (10,544 to 9,195) and Clackmannanshire (19,036 to 16,350) - both key Yes targets.

The No strongholds of Shetland (9,951 to 5,669) and Orkney (10,004 to 4,883) saw the voters reject independence.

David Cameron is due to make a live TV address to the nation from 10 Downing Street once the result is confirmed.

The Prime Minister is expected to set out not only proposals to devolve more powers to the Scottish Parliament, but also significant changes for other parts of the country.

Alex Salmond heading to Edinburgh

Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove said the announcement could involve reforms to ensure only English MPs can vote on English issues at Westminster.

He told Sky News: "It does look as though - and I'm keeping every limb crossed - the United Kingdom will be safe.

Mr Gove said Mr Cameron's statement would recognise "that Scotland needs enhanced devolution... (and that) it's also important to recognise that the rest of the United Kingdom needs to have its position enhanced as well, in Northern Ireland, in Wales and, of course, in England".

The referendum looks set to break records for turnout, with figures as high as 91% in East Dunbartonshire, 90.4% in East Renfrewshire and 90.1% in Stirling.

A poll taken by YouGov after people voted predicted a victory for No by 54% to 46% for Yes.

And even before the first results were announced, its president Peter Kellner told Sky News: "I can't see No losing this now.

"At the obvious risk of looking like a complete prat in eight hours' time, I would say it is a 99% certainty of a No victory."

Despite the survey, the chairman of Yes Scotland, former Labour MP Dennis Canavan, told Sky News: "I'm still optimistic ... I'm not at this stage conceding the result."

Speaking on Sky News, Blair McDougall, the Better Together campaign director, welcomed the high turnout.

"There has been the biggest super-poll in Scottish political history today with probably the biggest turnout in recent political history.

Sky News has learned officials at the referendum count in Glasgow are investigating 10 cases of suspected electoral fraud at polling stations.

Although the votes are being counted at 32 regional centres - whichever side "wins" in each area is irrelevant.

All that matters is whoever gets the most overall - even if it is by a single vote.

:: Watch live: Scottish referendum coverage now on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage is also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

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Scottish Independence: Decision Day For Voters

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Around four million Scottish voters go to the polls today in a referendum that will change Britain forever, whatever the outcome.

A Yes vote at the end of a hard-fought campaign will bring an end to the Union of the United Kingdom that has stood for more than 300 years.

But a No vote will bring big change, too, with David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg pledging more devolution, more cash and more control over the NHS in Scotland.

Voters will be asked a simple question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

After the polls close at 10pm tonight, counting of the votes takes place at 32 regional centres all over Scotland and then once each result is in, the numbers will be sent to the main counting centre in Edinburgh.

The earliest declarations, at around 2am on Friday, will include North Lanarkshire, Orkney, East Lothian and Perth and Kinross.

The latest, at 6am, is expected to be Aberdeen. Dundee is expected at 3am and Edinburgh and Glasgow at 5am.

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Muslim Aid Workers Make Plea For UK Hostage

A British Muslim aid worker has made a direct appeal to Islamic State's leader to show "compassion and mercy" to UK hostage Alan Henning.

The father-of-two from Salford travelled to Syria with charity workers in December, but was kidnapped and now faces beheading at the hands of the terrorist dubbed 'Jihadi John'.

In the video, addressed directly to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the man describes travelling "several times" to Syria with Mr Henning.

"On all occasions, we - your Muslim brothers - brought him with us under our care and protection," he says.

New footage shows Mr Henning saying his aid trip is 'all worthwhile'

"Alan was so moved by the suffering of the Syrian people, in particular the children, that he devoted all his free time in raising money and awareness about their suffering.

"He washed cars to raise money, he collected aid, he talked to everybody he met about crimes committed against the Muslims in Syria."

It comes as new footage shows Mr Henning en route to Syria, saying it is "all worthwhile" to make sure aid gets to where it is needed.

Mr Henning, a taxi driver, was kidnapped within 30 minutes of crossing from Turkey into Syria.

The unnamed man says Mr Henning is a selfless man, a 'good man'

He had volunteered to drive an ambulance full of medical aid as part of a community-funded charity trip organised by volunteers from Bolton and the UK Arab Society.

It is believed he was abducted by IS in Al Dana, a town 38km (24 miles) from Aleppo.

Reports suggest he was separated from Muslim counterparts by masked men.

Friends who travelled with the 47-year-old said they made desperate attempt to get him freed before returning to the UK without him.

The taxi driver drove an ambulance to deliver aid to Syria's refugees

The man in the video appeal describes Mr Henning's commitment to raise as much money as he could for refugees of Syria's civil war.

The YouTube appeal was partly coordinated by Cage - a group campaigning against the so-called "war on terror".

Emotionally overwhelmed at the end of the video, the man urges IS leader al Baghdadi to "please, please, please, release Alan."

"He has no affiliation with any political agenda," he says.

The video was addressed to IS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi

"Show him compassion and mercy as he showed compassion and mercy to Muslims of Syria."

Alan Henning appeared at the end of the video released on Saturday in which fellow UK hostage David Haines was beheaded by IS - with a threat that he would be next.

:: The Muslim Council of Britain has called for the immediate release of Mr Henning without harm.

Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "Such a man should be celebrated, not incarcerated. Taking such people hostage, and murdering them, are against the principles laid out in the Qur'an and our Prophetic traditions.

"These actions are against the spirit of the Shariah which Henning's captors reportedlyclaim to uphold."

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Missing Alice Gross: Police Search For Man

Police investigating the disappearance of teenager Alice Gross are searching for a man who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

Detectives are appealing for the public's help to find Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, who was last seen at his home in Ealing on September 3.

The 41-year-old lives with his partner and child and is known to travel to work along a similar route to the one Alice took on the day she disappeared.

Mr Zalkalns was reported missing on September 5 after he failed to turn up to meet a friend so they could cycle to work together.

Police described Mr Zalkalns as white, 5ft 10ins tall, with a stocky build and dark brown hair which he usually wears in a ponytail.

Alice was last spotted on CCTV by the Grand Union Canal

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "It is completely out of character for Arnis to go missing.

"His family is very worried about him. I am asking for anyone who has seen him, or knows where he is to get in touch."

"I would stress that based on what we know now there is no evidence to suggest that Arnis and Alice knew each other.

"At this stage, we simply want to speak to him, as he may well have important information that can help our search for Alice."

It comes after police released a 25-year-old man who was being held on suspicion of murder, but has been told he faces no further action.

A 51-year-old man who was held on September 7 by officers working to establish what happened to the 14-year-old was released the following day.

Despite repeated public appeals, investigators have had no confirmed sightings of Alice since 4.26pm on August 28, when she was last seen on CCTV by the Grand Union Canal in west London.

Scotland Yard's Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers said Alice's family had been left "devastated" by her disappearance.

Alice left her family home in Hanwell at around 1pm on August 28

Her parents, Jose Gross and Rosalind Hodgkiss, and sister Nina have previously recorded appeals urging her to come home.

Det Insp Chalmers said police have no evidence that the anorexic teen was being bullied but hope finding her white iPhone 4S with a distinctive cracked case might help officers with a breakdown of her recent communications.

The smartphone last connected to the network just after 5pm on the day she disappeared.

He said Alice had been going through a "difficult time" but there had been no family argument before she vanished.

Det Insp Chalmers made a public appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Tuesday night, using CCTV images to show Alice's last known movements between 1pm when she left her Hanwell home and 4.26pm when she walked along Trumpers Way towards Hanwell.

Alice is white, 5ft 2ins tall, of very slim build and has shoulder-length, light brown hair.

She was last seen wearing dark blue jeans and a dark green lacy cardigan and carrying a dark rucksack.

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Two Dead In Helicopter Crash Off Flamborough

Two men have died after a helicopter crashed into the sea near a lighthouse at Flamborough, East Yorkshire.

The RAF and the local air ambulance, as well as lifeboats from Flamborough and Bridlington, were called to the scene just after noon on Tuesday.

The bodies were recovered shortly after 5pm, said a Humberside Police spokesman.

The helicopter was a private charter and had taken off from an airfield near Edinburgh.

Golfers at the Flamborough Head club saw the aircraft disappear from view

It was due to refuel at Humberside Airport around the time it crashed and then head on to a destination near Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Ron Marwood, chairman of the local golf club, which fringes the cliffs, described the helicopter as probably having just two to four seats.

He told Sky News he had heard a change in engine noise and then it "just disappeared".

"It was flying along quite happily. The engine noise seemed to change - that was the first I sort of took notice of it," said Mr Marwood.

"It appeared to be coming in, as if to try and get in close to the cliff and maybe land on the cliff, because it's all cornfields and that.

"But it disappeared below the level of the cliff."

Ron Marwood said the helicopter disappeared below the cliff

Visibility was around three to four miles and emergency services arrived within minutes, Mr Marwood said.

It is believed the helicopter was a JetRanger type.

A team from the Government's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is now investigating.

Members of the public are being warned to stay away from the crash site due to dangerous cliff edges and aviation fuel in the water.

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Manhunt After Brits Killed In Thai Beach Attack

FCO Advice For Thailand Tourists

Updated: 10:39am UK, Monday 15 September 2014

The latest Foreign Office advice for tourists in Thailand warns of the danger of robberies and sex assaults in areas popular with backpackers.

Here is the FCO's advice on crime in the country, which draws around 800,000 British visitors each year.

Eleven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009.

Western tourists have been victims of vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan.

These attacks are particularly common around the time of the Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin on Koh Phangan.

In January 2013 a British national was killed in a shooting incident while at a beach party in Haad Rin.

Violent assaults and robberies have been reported in Chaweng, Koh Samui.

Attacks have also occurred in other tourist districts in Thailand including in Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Krabi. Take care, especially at night.

There have been sexual assaults against foreign men and women, especially in the Koh Samui archipelago and Krabi province.

Tourists have also been robbed after bringing visitors to their hotel rooms.

In some cases their drinks were drugged. Be careful about taking drinks from strangers and at clubs and parties, particularly in Koh Samui, Pattaya and at the Full Moon party on Koh Phangan, where date rapes have been reported.

Alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment. If you drink, know your limit.

Drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. Some British nationals have suffered severe psychiatric problems because of drug use, resulting in some suicides.

Be aware of the possibility of credit card fraud. Don't lose sight of your card during transactions.

There have been incidents of ATM skimming in Thailand. Where possible use an ATM within a bank and always protect your PIN.

Be careful to observe demarcation lines between shops and stalls, particularly in market areas and at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Taking items from one shop's area to another may be treated as suspected theft.

Be on your guard against pickpockets and bag snatchers. Foreigners have had items snatched by thieves on motorbikes when walking along busy streets or travelling in open transport like tuk tuks.

If you travel by bus, make sure cash and valuables you have are kept securely. There have been incidents where passengers have had items taken from bags while asleep.

Gem scams are common. There have been reports of visitors buying gems for inflated prices from seemingly respectable establishments then later finding out the stones are worth a tiny fraction of the purchase price.

You should report any incidents of crime to the Thai police before leaving the country.

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Eight 'Slaves' Rescued In Caravan Site Raid

Four people have been arrested after eight "slaves" were rescued during a raid on a caravan site in Bedfordshire.

The alleged victims - seven men aged between 20 and 46, and a 17-year-old boy - were found at the Greenacres site near Leighton Buzzard.

Police say some had been held there for "many years".

They are said to be in a "poor state of physical health".

Some are receiving medical and psychological treatment at an undisclosed location, but others refused to engage with police.

Four residents of the Gipsy Lane site, two men and two women, were arrested under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

Some 65 officers, including a helicopter, firearms and dog unit, took part in the dawn raid on Sunday.

Police previously raided the site in 2011. Pic: File

Chief Inspector Tania Coulson said: "The men we found at the plot were in a poor state of physical health and the conditions they were living in were cramped and filthy.

"We believe that some of the victims had been living and working there in a state of virtual slavery, some for just a few days/weeks and others for many years.

"The offences being investigated are extremely serious.

"We understand that some people may have information about what has been happening, but have been too scared to come forward and report it.

"People who do want to talk to us about this matter should contact us on 101, or Crimestoppers, which is both anonymous and independent from the police. You do not have to give your name, but if you do we will keep it secret."

The raid followed a lengthy investigation into reports that a number of people were being held as "modern slaves".

Two other men were arrested - one for obstructing a police officer and another for breach of the peace.

In 2011, 24 "slaves" were found at the site after a police raid. Four people were later convicted.

The latest operation comes amid a campaign by the Home Office to raise awareness of "modern slavery".

Those who suspect cases of modern slavery or feel they may be a victim can call a national helpline on 0800 0121 700.

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Radicalisation Threat To All: Victim's Brother

The brother of murdered hostage David Haines has said radicalisation poses a threat to "the wholesale safety of every person in the world".

The British aid worker was beheaded by the Islamic State militant group in a video released on Saturday in which a jihadist also threatened another UK hostage with death.

Mr Haines' brother Michael said Britons fleeing to Syria and Iraq to join fundamentalists should face harsh penalties when they return to the UK.

He said: "We agree with the Government that ISIL (IS) is extremely dangerous and poses a threat to every nation, every religion, every politics and every person."

Mr Haines said "radicalisation remains the biggest threat to the wholesale safety of every person in the world" and "we are seeing more and more" of it "in every walk of life".

David Haines was killed by Islamic State

He also said radicalisation was "not a race, religion, or political issue" but was a "human issue", adding the Muslim faith was not to blame for IS.

Mr Haines said his family also agreed with the Government that Britons travelling to fight with IS "need to face the consequences of their actions when they return to the UK".

He went on: "My first reaction could be one of hatred but my brother's life wasn't about hatred, it was about love."

David Haines was seized as he worked with the aid agency ACTED in Syria in March 2013.

Michael Haines said his brother could not wait to go to the country: "He was really excited. Very enthusiastic.

"He was going across to look at the logistics and planning, how best to put ACTED's operation into a safe operation. He was very happy to go."

Michael Haines earlier paid tribute to his brother, from Perth in Scotland, saying the father-of-two was "just another bloke" and "a good brother".

He said in a statement issued through the Foreign Office: "His joy and anticipation for the work he went to do in Syria is for myself and family the most important element of this whole sad affair.

"He was and is loved by all his family and will be missed terribly."

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PM: We Will 'Hunt Down' David Haines' Killers

David Cameron has vowed that Britain will "hunt down" those responsible for the murder of British aid worker David Haines and bring them to justice.

Speaking from Downing Street after chairing a meeting of Cobra, Mr Cameron described Islamic State extremists as "monsters" who are part of a "fanatical organisation".

"We will hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes," Mr Cameron said.

"David Haines was an aid worker. He went into harm's way, not to harm people but to help his fellow human beings in the hour of their direst need, from the Balkans to the Middle East.

"David Haines was a British hero. The fact that an aid worker was taken, held and brutally murdered at the hand of Islamic State sums up what this organisation stands for.

A man wearing black addresses David Cameron in the video

"They boast of their brutality. They claim to do this in the name of Islam. That is nonsense - Islam is a religion of peace."

Earlier in the day Mr Cameron held emergency talks with senior representatives of the military, the security services, the Foreign Office and the Home Office.

He returned to Downing Street shortly after midnight when IS released a video which showed Mr Haines' death.

Government sources say the death will not change Britain's policy and Parliament will not be recalled.

But Mr Cameron said Britain's security depends upon taking action against the extremists.

Mr Haines has been described as a 'British hero' (Pic: Lance Baldwin)

"It must strengthen our resolve. We must recognise that it will take time to eradicate a threat like this. It will require, as I have described, action at home and abroad," he said.

"This is not something we can do on our own. We have to work with the rest of the world.

"Ultimately, our security as a nation, the way we go about our everyday lives in this free and tolerant society that is Britain, has always depended on our readiness to act against those who stand for hatred and who stand for destruction."

Mr Haines was taken hostage in Syria last year

The footage of Mr Haines' death shows a knife-wielding militant who speaks with a British accent.

The clip also includes a threat to kill a second hostage, later named as Alan Henning, who was a volunteer on an aid convoy.

In the video, Mr Haines looks into the camera and makes a statement, holding Mr Cameron responsible for his own "execution".

In the statement, which appears to have been made under duress, he said: "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend against our British prime ministers who can't find the courage to say 'no' to the Americans.

"Unfortunately it is we the British public that in the end will pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."

Mr Cameron returned to Downing Street for crisis talks

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "All the signs are that the video is genuine. We have no reason to believe it is not."

The aid agency that Mr Haines was working for when he was taken hostage in 2013 said it was "appalled and horrified" by the killing.

"ACTED strongly condemns with the utmost of force these crimes. In this tragic moment, our thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones," the agency said.

The killing comes just weeks after American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were beheaded by Islamic State (IS). Those deaths were also filmed, and the videos were released on the internet.

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PM Condemns 'Murder' Of British Aid Worker

British Prime David Cameron has condemned the beheading of British aid worker David Haines by Islamic State, describing it as an "act of pure evil".

A video put out by the militant organisation shows 44-year-old father of two Mr Haines being murdered.

In a statement put out by Downing Street tonight, Mr Cameron says: "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."

Mr Haines brother Mike said his sibling was "just another bloke" who "helped whoever needed help" until he was murdered "in cold blood".

David Cameron returned to Downing Street with his head bowed

Mr Haines was thought have been held captive by militant group Islamic State after being kidnapped from a Syrian refugee camp close to the border with Turkey last year.

Mr Cameron has returned to Downing Street and will chair a Cobra meeting today, officials confirmed.

The release of the video came hours after Mr Haines family urged his captors to contact them.

In the video, the victim looks into the camera makes a statement, holding Mr Cameron responsible for his own "execution"

In the statement, which may have been made under duress, he said: "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend against our British prime ministers who can't find the courage to say 'no' to the Americans.

"Unfortunately it is we the British public that in the end will pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."

The killing comes just weeks after two American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were also seen being beheaded by Islamic State (IS), in similarly filmed videos.

Behind Mr Haines, stood a man in black, who appeared to speak with an English accent.

David Haines worked as an aid worker

After Mr Haines finished, the man said : "This British man has to the pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the peshmerga against the Islamic State.

"Your evil alliance with America which continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently bombed the Haditha Dam will only accelerate your destruction."

"If you, Cameron, persist in fighting the Islamic State then you like your master Obama will have the blood of your people on your hands."

Another man who Sky News is not naming, said to be British, then appears at the end of the video and is threatened with being killed.

The Foreign Office said Mr Haines' family wished to be left alone.

US President Barack Obama has put out a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom.

"The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve."

The murders have prompted a number of commentators to call for swift and firm action. Former head of the Army Lord Dannatt said the UK should respond by playing its role in the assault against IS promised by US president Barack Obama.

"What we absolutely need to do is not be cowed in any way by yet another foul murder of a hostage," he said.

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Brother: David 'Helped Whoever Needed Help'

David Haines' brother has paid tribute to the aid worker, describing him as "just another bloke" who "helped whoever needed help".

Mike Haines released a statement through the Foreign Office in which he describes his brother's life and work and also says how much he will be "terribly" missed.

The statement says: "My name is Mike Haines, I am brother to David Haines, who was recently murdered in cold blood.

"David was like so very many of us, just another bloke.

"Born in 1970 to parents who loved us both, our childhood was centred around our family.

"Holidays in caravans and tents, days away as a family which we remember fondly. David and I were brought up to know right from wrong, although we might not with the innocence of youth have always chosen right.

"David was a good brother, there when I needed him and absent when I didn't. I hope that he felt the same way about me.

"He was, in the right mood, the life and soul of the party and on other times the most stubborn irritating pain in the ass. He would probably say the same about me.

Mr Haines served with the UN in the Balkans

"After leaving school he worked with the Royal Mail before joining the RAF as an aircraft engineer.

"He married his childhood sweetheart Louise and in the due process of time had a wee lass Bethany. He was - and no doubt wherever he is - exceptionally proud of Bethany.

"David served with the UN in the Balkans, helping people in real need. There are many accolades from people in that region that David helped. He helped whoever needed help, regardless of race, creed or religion.

"During this time David began to decide that humanitarian work was the field he wanted to work in.

"David left the RAF and was employed by Scotrail. As with every job, David entered into it with enthusiasm. David met and married his second wife Dragana and they have a four-year-old daughter Athea.

"David was most alive and enthusiastic in his humanitarian roles. His joy and anticipation for the work he went to do in Syria is for myself and family the most important element of this whole sad affair.

"He was and is loved by all his family and will be missed terribly."

The statement ended with the Foreign Office saying that the family have asked for privacy.

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