Tackling Islamic State Extremists

There are fresh questions about how the UK will deal with the threat of Islamic State extremists.

It's after the murder of Scottish aid worker David Haines.

Yesterday, David Cameron appeared to rule out putting troops on the ground in the Middle East to tackle IS militants.

They're holding captive a second British man, Alan Henning, who they've threatened to kill.

Meanwhile, speaking after a meeting of the Scottish Government's resilience committee earlier today, First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"This was an act of unspeakable barbarism.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the Haines family and friends who have borne these absolutely terrible circumstances with great fortitude in recent months. Supporting the family and ensuring they get the privacy they have asked for is of primary importance to us at this time.

"Earlier today I convened a meeting of the Scottish Government's Cabinet Sub-Committee for Resilience (CSC-SGOR) to look at our specific responsibilities in these matters and we will continue to work closely with Police Scotland, the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the coming days.

“We will also work with the communities of Scotland, which is of great priority. Scotland's Muslim community are a strong and valued part of Scottish society, and they should in no way be held responsible for the extremism of ISIL. But we must have total vigilance, and be clear that any aggravated racial or religious attack will be met with the full force of the law and will not be tolerated."

In a statement Mike Haines, David's brother, said:

"Our brother, son, father, nephew, husband and friend was brutally and cold-bloodedly murdered by ISIL after being held hostage since March 2013.

"In that time we have been in constant contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the police and other authorities.

"We have, as a family, received all the support and cooperation that could under the circumstances be given.

"We can only praise and give our thanks to the agencies who have helped us during our time of need.

"We agree with the Government in that ISIL are extremely dangerous, and pose a threat to every nation, every religion, every politics and every person.

"Radicalisation remains the biggest threat to the wholesale safety of every person in the world. Increasingly we are seeing more and more radicalisation in every walk of life.

"It is not a race, religion or political issue, it is a human issue and it is in our everyday lives.

"I have become aware of a number of verses in the Koran that I feel are particularly apt at this time, if I may: 'The sense good and evil cannot be equal. Repel the evil with something that is better."'

British Muslim leaders today condemned the killing and said Isil did not represent their faith.

Echoing their sentiments, Mr Haines added: "The Muslim faith is not to blame for ISIL, nor is it the fault of people of Middle Eastern descent.

"The attraction of complete control and the use of terror as an implement of operational control has a widespread appeal to many disenfranchised throughout society, as you can see by the amount of foreign nationals, not just British, fighting for ISIL.

"We need as a society to look at how we deal with this problem. My family and I agree with the Government that we need those travelling to fight for ISIL and on their return to the UK face the consequences of their actions."

Earlier, Mr Haines paid tribute to the victim, 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: "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.

"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."