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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UK Hostage Murder Threat 'Against Sharia'

A group of Muslim scholars has made a direct appeal to Islamic State (IS) militants to release the British hostage Alan Henning.

In a video message posted online, the men told the 47-year-old's captors that killing him would be against Islamic law.

Mr Henning, a taxi driver from Salford, was delivering aid in Syria when he was captured in December near the town of al Dana.

Shaykh Haitham al Haddad, a qadi or judge in the Sharia council in London, said: "This is to confirm that executing this man is totally haram (sinful), is impermissible, prohibited according to Sharia for a number of reasons."

Ustadh Abu Eesa, director at Prophetic Guidance in Manchester, said Mr Henning had joined a Muslim charity convoy because he "passionately believes in helping the most needy".

He said: "No matter what our differences, no matter how differently we see the world, what there is no doubt about is that the killing of an innocent man is not permitted in the religion of Allah.

"It is not permissible whatsoever to harm a person who believes that he is safe among the people he is working with. This safety must be honoured."

Mr Henning, 47, had driven an ambulance to Syria to deliver aid

A third scholar, Imam Shakeel Begg from the Lewisham Islamic Centre, said Mr Henning was innocent.

He added: "Whatever your grievance, whatever your cause, this man is innocent."

It comes after more than 100 Muslim leaders signed a statement pleading for IS to release Mr Henning and branding them "monsters" for the murder of fellow hostage David Haines.

In a letter in the Independent newspaper, they said: "We, the undersigned British Muslim Imams, organisations and individuals, wish to express our horror and revulsion at the senseless murder of David Haines and the threat to the life of our fellow British citizen, Alan Henning."

Mr Henning appeared at the end of a video released by IS militants last Saturday in which Mr Haines was beheaded. The video contained a threat that he would be killed next.

Separate video footage - filmed before his capture - showed him saying it was "all worthwhile" to ensure aid got to where it was most needed in Syria.

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Scotland Votes No: PM Promises New Powers

David Cameron has promised new powers for Scotland as 55% of the country voted to reject independence in a historic referendum.

However, he warned that it was now time for the "millions of voices of England must be heard".

The Prime Minister was speaking outside No 10 after Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond accepted defeat. With all the votes in 55% of Scotland voted to stay in the Union while 44% voted in favour of independence.

Mr Cameron said the new powers he, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had promised the Scottish people in the dying days of the referendum campaign would be "honoured in full".

The PM says work will start on a "full and fair settlement"

But he unveiled a substantial shake-up of powers for the whole of the UK suggesting new powers for Wales and Northern Ireland and greater influence for England's MPs over English law.

He said work would start on a "full and fair settlement for all of the UK" in what will clearly be a shift towards a more federalist UK.

Speaking after the result became clear Mr Salmond, whose dream of breaking up the 307-year-old Union has been shattered, said: "I accept the verdict and expect all people to follow suit."

Shattered dreams: Alex Salmond drives away as the result becomes clear

He was quick to demand extra powers were delivered warning Mr Cameron: "Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course."

The leader of the No campaign Alistair Darling told people in Glasgow: "The silent have spoken."

He said the vote, which saw a record 84% turnout, was a momentous day for the country, but urged Westminster politicians to listen to the people, who had called for change both in Scotland and the UK.

Dejected Yes campaigners in Glasgow

And, referring to the devolved powers, he said it was time to move forward and said: "Come on Scotland, let's get on with this together."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg hailed the No vote as a "momentous decision to safeguard our family of nations for future generations".

But he added that a "vote against independence was clearly not a vote against change and we must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland.

Dundee celebrates a Yes

"At the same time, this referendum north of the border has led to demand for constitutional reform across the United Kingdom as people south of the border also want more control and freedom in their own hands rather than power being hoarded in Westminster.

"So this referendum marks not only a new chapter for Scotland within the UK but also wider constitutional reform across the Union."

The pound has strengthened and the FTSE 100 is forecast to rebound by more than 100 points following the No vote in Scotland's independence referendum.

Celebrations in the No camp as the results come in

But the result has left a country divided with Yes victories in Dundee and the nation's largest city Glasgow.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said whatever the result, politics in Scotland would not be the same: "The status quo has been thoroughly smashed."

Labour MP Jim Murphy, who played a leading role in the Better Together campaign, told Sky News: "We are going to have to make a success of the decision Scotland has made.

"While I'm delighted, there is no time or space for triumph and we have got to get on and offer that devolution package we offered and unite the country around that."

In the closing stages of a hard-fought campaign, it appeared the momentum had swung towards Mr Salmond.

Ultimately however, he failed to convince the Scottish electorate that the merits of going it alone outweighed the risks.

:: 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 Referendum: What They're Saying

Supporters of both the Yes and No campaigns have been giving their reactions to Scotland's decision to reject independence.

Prime Minister David Cameron: "The people of Scotland have spoken and it is a clear result. They've kept our country of four nations together and like millions of other people, I am delighted.

"As I said during the campaign, it would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end and I know that this sentiment was shared not just by people across our country but also around the world.

"Now the debate has been settled for a generation, or as Alex Salmond has said, perhaps for a lifetime. So there can be no disputes, no reruns - we have heard the settled will of the Scottish people.

Alex Salmond: 'I accept that verdict of the people'

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond: "Scotland has by majority decided not at this stage to become an independent country and I accept that verdict of the people, and I call on all Scots to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland.

"The process by which we have made our decision as a nation reflects enormous credit upon Scotland.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling gave financial backing to the Yes campaign

"A turnout of 86% is one of the highest in the democratic world for any election or any referendum in history - this has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics."

Better Together campaign chair Alistair Darling: "The people of Scotland have spoken. We have chosen unity over division and positive change rather than needless separation."

Nicola Sturgeon said the campaign was 'a joy to be part of'

Author and Better Together supporter J K Rowling: "Been up all night watching Scotland make history. A huge turnout, a peaceful democratic process: we should be proud."

Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: "This campaign has been a joy to be part of, it's quite unlike anything I've ever been part of in my life before.

"As have thousands and thousands of others, I have given my heart and soul to this campaign but what has been amazing are the number of people who have never been involved in politics before, who have never campaigned as part of a political movement before, who have got involved."

Nick Clegg said the result was welcome 'in a dangerous and uncertain world'

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg: "I'm absolutely delighted the Scottish people have taken this momentous decision to safeguard our family of nations for future generations.

"In a dangerous and uncertain world I have no doubt we are stronger, safer, and more prosperous together than we ever could be apart.

"But a vote against independence was clearly not a vote against change and we must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland.

Better Together's Jim Murphy: "We are going to have to make a success of the decision Scotland has made.

"While I'm delighted, there is no time or space for triumph and we have got to get on and offer that devolution package we offered and unite the country around that.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby: "Over the past few weeks the campaign has touched on such raw issues of identity and been so closely fought that it has generated profound questioning and unsettlement far beyond Scotland.

"The decision by the Scottish people to remain within the United Kingdom, while deeply disappointing to many, will be welcomed by all those who believe that this country can continue to be an example of how different nations can work together for the common good within one state.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage: "The way that Westminster handled this was abysmal from the start.

"A series of promises were made on behalf of the English. The English are 86% by population of this union, they've been left out of all of this ( The Barnett formula) for the past 18 years ... what most English people want is a fair settlement."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson: "Scotland had the biggest, broadest conversation about our future. We have to come together again & move forward together. It's all our home."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson: "Delighted Scotland has voted to remain in the Union.  We are better together."

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones: "Pleased the people of Scotland have voted to remain in the Union – together we will shape a new constitutional future for the UK."

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British Muslims Plea For 'Mercy' For UK Hostage

British Muslim leaders have united to call for the Islamic State extremist group to release the UK hostage Alan Henning.

They have urged the militants to show mercy to the 47-year-old from Salford, and to let him go unharmed.

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

The intervention came as a friend of Mr Henning, who was on the same aid convoy, made a direct appeal to IS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, to show "compassion and mercy".

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

In the video 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.

"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."

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

More than 100 Muslim leaders have signed a statement to IS pleading for Mr Henning's release, and branding them "monsters" for the brutal murder of fellow hostage David Haines.

In a letter published in the Independent newspaper, they said: "We, the undersigned British Muslim Imams, organisations and individuals, wish to express our horror and revulsion at the senseless murder of David Haines and the threat to the life of our fellow British citizen, Alan Henning."

They said those holding Mr Henning hostage must accept that what they are doing is against the Koran and "constitutes the worst condemnable sin".

The Muslim Council of Britain was among the signatories.

Dr Shuja Shafi, the council's Secretary General, 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."

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.

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

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

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 him said they made desperate attempt to get him freed before returning to the UK.

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 video was addressed to IS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi

The YouTube appeal was partly co-ordinated 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.

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

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

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Decision Day For Voters: Scots Go To Polls

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Scottish people have started voting 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 307 years.

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

Four million people will take part in the referendum which is expected to produce a turnout as high as 90%.

More than 2,600 schools, sports centres and local halls have opened their doors to voters.

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.

:: Watch live: Scottish referendum coverage from 9pm on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

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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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A Third Of Women 'Victims Of Domestic Abuse'

One in three women in Britain have suffered domestic violence, according to a new survey.

And the poll found more than a third of victims (35%) had kept it a secret from friends and family.

National women's charity Refuge said the findings suggested an increased awareness of the crime among women, but that it remained a hidden problem.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by the charity and ITV's Loose Women show, defined domestic violence as an incident of threatening behaviour, violence or emotional abuse.

Refuge chief executive Sandra Horley, CBE, said: "We don't know the true extent of domestic violence because so many women don't disclose their experiences to anyone. It's a hidden problem.

"This survey shows that one woman in three have experienced domestic violence.

"This could indicate that more women are aware of the problem and are better able to recognise the signs of abuse.

"It is not surprising to me that this poll has shown that domestic violence affects huge numbers of women in this country."

The survey showed that of the victims who had revealed the abuse, nearly half (43%) thought it was not serious enough to involve other people.

A third thought it was a private matter and 14% thought their partner's behaviour was a normal part of being in a relationship.

Of all the women that took part in the survey, nearly one in four (23%) said they would not know how to help a victim.

Ms Horley added: "Domestic violence is all about power and control. It is purposeful, systematic, patterned behaviour designed to exert control over a partner.

"The truth is that domestic violence is not a private matter.

"It is a huge social issue that affects the whole of our society."

The poll of 2,244 women was carried out online between September 3 and 5. The data was weighted to represent all British women.

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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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Thai Murders: Police Focus On Migrant Workers

Police investigating the "gruesome" killing of two British tourists in Thailand say they are looking at whether someone from the migrant worker community could be involved.

The bodies of 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, were discovered semi-naked on a beach in Koh Tao on Monday.

A bloodstained hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, was found nearby.

The manhunt originally centred on an apparently British backpacker, but Thai police now appear to have changed tack.

The victims were removed in blue body bags

"We are focusing on migrant workers because of the surrounding witnesses and evidence, including the video footage," Major General Kiattipong Khawsamang said.

"We are sweeping hotels, bars, businesses and residences of migrant workers on the beach to find the suspect."

Police have released CCTV stills in the area, one of which reportedly shows the two victims, who had met on the island, walking hand-in-hand.

A suspect, believed to be Asian, appears in a later image, but police say they are following a number of leads.

Friends have paid tribute to the victims on social media

Some 70 officers are now on the island and defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan said police hoped "to make an arrest as soon as possible".

Ms Witheridge's father Tony said his family was "distraught" at receiving "the most devastating news".

Friends have paid tribute to the victims on social media.

Mr Miller's girlfriend, Jessy Howorth, said: "My best friend and the love of my life. We were meant to have so much more time together but I'll continue loving you everyday forever."

The island of Koh Tao is a popular holiday destination

Friend Ellie Griffiths said: "So shocked and upset to hear about the death of such an incredibly warm, charismatic, smiley and insightful person.

"Your absence on this planet will be missed and often thought about, I'm so pleased and honoured to have known you Dave."

A Facebook tribute page was set up in memory of Miss Witheridge.

Kal Sylvan Holmes, a friend, said: "Just found out a friend from school was murdered in Thailand. I feel sick and upset."

The victims' bodies, found roughly 100 yards from the scene of a beach party, were taken away in blue body bags.

Local people gathered for a candlelit vigil

Police Colonel Prachum Ruangthong said: "The man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face.

"It's very gruesome."

Local people gathered on the beach last night for a candlelit vigil in memory of the pair.

Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha said: "This should not have happened in Thailand. It will affect our image in the eyes of international countries."

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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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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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Hostage David Haines' Murder 'Evil', PM Says

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 released by the militant organisation appears to show 44-year-old father of two Mr Haines being murdered.

In a statement put out by Downing Street, 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 to have been held captive by militant group Islamic State after being kidnapped from a Syrian refugee camp near the border with Turkey last year.

Mr Cameron has returned to Downing Street and will chair a Cobra meeting today at 10am with representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office.

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 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."

A man dressed in black addresses David Cameron in the video

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

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.

In the new video, a man dressed in black stood behind Mr Haines. The man seemed to speak with an English accent.

After Mr Haines finished his statement, the man said: "This British man has to 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."

David Haines worked as an aid worker

"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."

France strongly condemned the murder and called for an international mobilisation to fight the Islamist group.

"The heinous murder of David Haines shows once again how the international community must mobilise against Daesh," the French presidency said in statement, referring to the Arabic acronym for IS.

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 Mr 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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