Brother of beheaded hostage David Haines backs terror memorial

The brother of murdered hostage David Haines today backed a memorial for Britons killed by terrorists overseas which may be put up in London.

Ministers suggest it could be located either in Westminster or the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, though another area has not been ruled out.

Aid worker Mr Haines, 44, was the first Briton beheaded in Islamic State videos featuring Londoner Mohammed Emwazi, known as “Jihadi John”, who was killed in a US air strike in Syria in November. Mr Haines’ brother Mike said: “We have been devastated by my brother’s loss and know that other families have been affected in the same way. I would say to them, come and join us, be part of this memorial.

“Share the grief and help celebrate the lives of those cut short by terrorism.”

Foreign Office minister for counter-terrorism Tobias Ellwood, who lost his brother Jonathan in the Bali bombings in 2002, added: “Sadly, there are victims of terrorism whose families do not have a place where they can grieve. It is therefore appropriate that we have a national memorial for those caught up in terrorism abroad. These people must never be forgotten.”