Murdered aid worker’s brother tells of ‘daily battle’ with hatred

Peace campaigner Mike Haines has said he has wrestled with feelings of hatred every day since the brutal murder of his brother.

Aid worker David Haines, from Perth, was captured and killed by Islamic State terrorists in an act of terror which sent shockwaves around the world.

His brother has spent the last three years speaking to more than 10,000 people and religious leaders, as part of his Global Acts of Unity campaign.

Mr Haines was talking to students at a school in London on Wednesday morning, just hours before Khalid Masood drove his car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

The 50-year-old, from Dundee, has called for unity in the wake of the attack.

But he admits that he faces a “daily battle” with hate.

Mr Haines told Sky News: “At the moment, feelings are very raw, there’s a lot of nervousness and fear. One of the things that we have to do is accept this. It is only natural to have these feelings.

“But it is very important that we stand together.”

He said: “The past few days, here in London, one of the things I have seen is that blitz mentality. We have been under attack, but we are going to stand united against it.

“It has been multi-faith and multicultural and it is almost like the silver lining to the cloud when something bad has happened.

“No matter who perpetrates the atrocity, it is the reaction we have to it. We can either take that path down to hatred and division and let people divide us, bring fear and discord into our society. Or we can stand shoulder to shoulder and let our voices be known.

Mr Haines added: “I must admit I have this daily battle with hatred. I could easily slip down that path.”

Picture: Getty. Police officers move floral tributes from outside the Houses of Parliament to Parliament Square. The bouquets were laid following Wednesday’s attack on Westminster.