Soldier is hacked to death in suspected terror attack
Police shoot two after killing in London street close to barracks
A MAN believed to be a serving soldier has been killed on a London street in a frenzied machete attack by two suspected terrorists who shouted “Allahu Akbar” and said they were avenging the deaths of Muslims.
The victim, who is believed to have been based at the Royal Artillery Barracks just 300 to 400 yards from the attack in Woolwich, was left to die after being butchered in a road when he was allegedly confronted by the men when his car crashed into a signpost.
His two assailants, who filmed the attack, were shot by armed police who arrived 20 minutes later after passers-by had risked their lives to try to help the victim.
If confirmed as a terrorist attack, it would be the first in the UK since the Glasgow Airport incident of 2007, when two men drove a Jeep into the main terminal before it exploded.
Scotland Yard’s top officer last night confirmed two men had been arrested.
The UK Government’s emergency committee, Cobra, met and heightened security was put in place around Army barracks in London. Personnel at the Woolwich barracks were locked down. Home Secretary Theresa May said it was “an attack on everyone in the United Kingdom”.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who will chair another meeting today in Downing Street, said it was “absolutely sickening” and pledged Britain will “never buckle” in the fight against extremists.
TV footage showed one of the men thought to be involved, moments after the attack with blood-stained hands and using jihadist-style rhetoric to justify the violence.
Brandishing a bloodied meat cleaver and knife, yards from the body, the man, speaking clearly in English with a London accent, said: “We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reason we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day.
“We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
He later added: “I apologise that women had to witness this today. But in our land our women have to see the same.”
He also urged the Government to be overthrown, adding: “You people will never be safe. Remove your Government. They don’t care about you.
“Tell them to bring our troops back so you can all live in peace.”
The public were praised after a number of people got out of their cars and shouted at the armed men to stop during the attack on the man, who was wearing a T-shirt bearing the name of the forces charity, Help for Heroes.
A group of women shielded the dead man’s body from further attack, despite the men standing over them with their weapons. Mother-of-two Ingrid LoyauKennett, 48, from Cornwall, confronted one of the attackers, saying: “It is only you versus many people, you are going to lose.”
At a Paris press conference with French President Francois Hollande, Mr Cameron said: “Tonight, our thoughts should be with the victim, with their family, with their friends.
“It is the most appalling crime. We are obviously seeking, and the police are urgently seeking, the full facts about this case, but there are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident.”
He added: “We look at every aspect of security. But you also have to remember that in a free country like ours the best way to defeat terrorism is to make sure you continue to go about your life, to live your life and to show terrorists can never win. That’s important.”
It is believed the soldier had been returning to the barracks, home to the Princess of Wales regiment and the ceremonial King’s Troop, after a day out.
The phrase used by the suspects, “Allahu Akbar”, means “God is the greatest”.
Witnesses described how one of the suspects rushed at the police, brandishing weapons, before being shot.
It emerged that armed officers took 20 minutes to arrive, leaving the two men to linger at the scene and allegedly boast about what they had done.
It was also suggested they had filmed
themselves. One of the men was heard to shout: “It was God’s will.”
One eye-witness, James, said: “These two guys were crazy. They just were not t here. They were just animals. They dragged the poor guy – he was obviously dead, there was no way a human could take what they did to him.
“They dragged him from the pavement and dumped his body in the middle of t he road and left hi s body there.”
The Muslim Council of Britain said: “This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. This action will no doubt heighten tensions on the streets of the United Kingdom.
“We call on all our communities, Muslim and non-Musli m, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail.”
Former Labour Home Secretary Lord Reid added: “If it is a terrorist action, if it is proven to be, it is very difficult to counter this kind of attack.”
Buckingham Palace said the Queen had expressed concern about the attack and was being kept informed of developments.
Police in Woolwich later contained English Defence League supporters who chanted against Muslims and waved the flag of St George. There were two arrests following an attack on a mosque in Braintree, Essex, and another in Gillingham, Kent.