UK press ignore foreign office advice on Iraq hostage murder
UK Sunday papers, with the exception of the Observer, ignored a Foreign Office request not to show still pictures from the video of the murder of hostage David Haines in Iraq.
In an email on Saturday night, the head of media at the Foreign office asked editors: “Not to carry the video, or stills from the video.” And also requested that newspapers not report that any other British citizens were being held in Syria because in the FCO’s assessment “coverage will increase the threat to their lives.”
Despite the request, many of today’s papers today have named 47 year old aid worker David Henning as the second British citizen being held by the terrorist group ISIS.
In an email to The Drum a FCO spokesperson said: “We are offering David Haines’ family every support possible. His family have issued a statement and we request that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”
Haines is the third western captive whose murder has been recorded and released on social media by ISIS. An international meeting being held in Paris today is expected to discuss further air-strikes against the militant group.