United Nations, Oct 4 (IANS): The UN Security Council has condemned the "heinous and cowardly murder" of Alan Henning, a voluntary British aid worker, by the Islamic State (IS).

"This crime is a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers volunteer humanitarian personnel face every day in Syria. It also once again demonstrates the brutality of IS, which is responsible for thousands of abuses against the Syrian and Iraqi people," the council said in a statement.

They emphasised that such continued acts of barbarism do not intimidate them, but rather stiffen their resolve that there has to be a common effort among governments and institutions to counter the IS, al-Nusra Front and all other Al Qaeda linked entities, Xinhua reported.

The IS militant group has claimed responsibility for the beheading of Henning, an aid worker who was held since 2013 by the militants.

He was on an aid convoy for Syrian refugees when he was captured by the terrorists.

The militants have beheaded two US journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and showed the horrifying process to the world in online video footages.