U.K. braces for unrest after slaying
Soldier’s death sparks fears of copycat killings
LONDON — As mourners paid tribute Friday to a British soldier butchered during broad daylight on a London street earlier this week, police braced for possible copycat killings, while counterterrorism officials assessed whether the gruesome murder could have been prevented.
Both of the suspects accused in Wednesday’s brutal slaughter of 25-year-old Lee Rigby had long been on the radar of Britain’s domestic spy agency, though investigators say it would have been nearly impossible to predict that the men were on the verge of a bloody killing.
Counter-terrorism officials said they are reviewing what — if any — lessons can be gleaned from the information they had leading up to the slaying Wednesday.
The British review comes amid an outpouring of grief over the death of Rigby, the father of a two-year old son who as a member of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers had served in Afghanistan.
Detectives say they do not believe the attackers knew him or that he was specifically targeted, but they are still investigating.
Wednesday’s attack was captured on video by passersby and made for gruesome viewing — one man is seen with his hands stained red with blood and holding two butcher’s knives as he angrily complained about the British government and troops in foreign lands.
Britain braced Friday for potential clashes with right-wing activists, who have promised demonstrations, as well as possible copycat terror attacks from extremists inspired by Wednesday’s killing.
Some 1,200 extra police have been put on alert in London.
Already, there has been increased chatter on militant sites, analysts said.
“We can see the tempo being raised,” said Maajid Nawaz, a former jihadist who is now with the London-based anti-extremist Quilliam Foundation. “
One of the reasons why these guys acted in this theatrical way was because of the propaganda effect so others would be inspired to do the same thing.”
A British government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the increase in chatter since Wednesday’s attack but said no specific or credible plots had been detected.
Britain’s terror threat level has remained unchanged at “substantial” — the middle of five possible rankings — since the slaying of Rigby.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday the Intelligence and Security Committee would review the work of agencies such as Britain’s domestic spy agency, MI5, in the wake of the attack “as is the normal practice in these sorts of cases.”