Fanatics killed my dad... we must hit back
THE daughter of murdered aid worker David Haines last night backed British military action against his killers.
Speaking for the first time since her father was beheaded, Bethany Haines welcomed British air strikes against the Islamic State terrorists.
The 17-year-old, from Perth, said: ‘ They [Islamic State] need to be eradicated. They can’t continue, they can’t be doing this to people and get away with it. No matter what nationality, if they’re Western or not.’
She added: ‘ Hundreds of Syrians have been killed by them and they need to be stopped.
‘If air strikes or ground force is what it takes, then that’s what it takes.
‘You need to get rid of the people that are doing the worst things in the world.
‘ They’re basically attacking Britain and showing that they think that they’re better than Britain – and they’re certainly not.
‘In my eyes, it’s a pathetic attention- seeking ploy. They beheaded my dad in that manner to get attention. They think themselves big and brave for doing it, they’re not.
‘They’ve torn my family apart but we have also grown stronger. My dad
‘Would have found his inner strength’
was a strong person, not what they showed in the video. He was always making people laugh and telling jokes.
‘He would have found his inner strength from his family and would want us to be strong now, and that’s what we are going to do.’
Last night, Bethany told ITV News: ‘I never thought the day would come when I got told, “Bethany, the worst has happened, he’s been killed”.
‘I always thought he would get out, but unfortunately he didn’t. But maybe one day he will actually be returned to us.’
Mr Haines, 44, was beheaded by an Islamic fanatic thought to be the Briton known as ‘Jihadi John’.
In a sickening video posted on YouTube, the black-clad executioner said Prime Minister David Cameron would have the ‘blood of your people on your hands’.
In the video, Mr Haines, a father of two, was shown kneeling in the desert sands in an orange jumpsuit and reciting a clearly scripted message to the camera.
He said: ‘I would like to declare now I hold you, David Cameron, entirely responsible f or my execution.
‘You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State, just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend among British Prime Ministers who can’t find the courage to say no to the Americans.
‘Unfortunately it is we, the British public, who will pay the price for our parliament’s selfish decision-making.’
The black- clad figure then says: ‘This British man has to pay the price for your promise, Cameron.’
He warned the Prime Minister that he would be dragged into a bloody and unwinnable war. The video showed Mr Haines, his arms tied behind his back, closing his eyes as if anticipating what is to come. The screen then went dark.
When the footage restarted it showed a bloody corpse lying on the ground.