http://www.debka.com/article/22986/Two-terrorists-behead-a-British-soldier-on-a-London-street-first-such-Islamist-outrage-in-the-West
Two as yet unidentified Muslin terrorists chanting Allahu Akbar assaulted a British soldier on a street close to the Royal Barracks at Woolwich in southeast London, shot him, hacked him with knives and a machete and finally beheaded him. This happened in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon, May 22, in the presence of dozens of witnesses, the first such outrage seen in a West European capital.
Witnesses told the police that the two terrorists covered in blood had held up body parts of their victim and shouted: "We swear by Allah never to stop killing you.”
British TV stations are airing gruesome scenes of the episode.
British TV stations are airing gruesome scenes of the episode.
The terrorists drove up to their victim in a car, jumped out and after the murder wandered about in the area, apparently lying in wait for more soldiers to come out of the Royal Artillery command barracks 400 meters from the scene of their attack.
London police reached the scene after 20 minutes. When the two killers ran towards them brandishing knives and a firearm, the police shot and injured them. They were taken to separate hospitals and placed under heavy guard in case of attempts to rescue them.
Police sources said later they were treating the incident as a politically-motivated Islamist terror attack, but have not identified the killers.
Police sources said later they were treating the incident as a politically-motivated Islamist terror attack, but have not identified the killers.
In the absence of Prime Minister David Cameron in Paris, Home Minister Theresa May summoned the Cobra emergency committee into urgent session. After examining intelligence input, the committee must decide whether the Woolwich outrage was a lone incident or to raise the terrorist alert level in London and the rest of the country.
Cameron cut short his trip to Paris and returns to London Wednesday night. He will deliver a speech to the nation after chairing a second emergency committee meeting Thursday morning.
Cameron cut short his trip to Paris and returns to London Wednesday night. He will deliver a speech to the nation after chairing a second emergency committee meeting Thursday morning.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329089/Woolwich-attack-Two-men-hack-soldier-wearing-Help-Heroes-T-shirt-death-machetes-suspected-terror-attack.html#ixzz2U3GYiaM4
'We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you': What man holding bloody cleaver said after 'hacking soldier in Help For Heroes T-shirt to death just yards from Woolwich barracks'
- Man tells camera: 'I apologise that women had to witness this today'
- Soldier attacked with meat cleavers and knives in Woolwich, SE London
- Eyewitness says: 'They were hacking at him, chopping him, cutting him'
- Two suspects waited until police arrived before trying to attack them
- Prime Minister David Cameron described the killing as 'truly shocking'
- Cobra meeting hears there are strong indications it was terrorist incident
- Suspects used 'a number of weapons' in attack, Metropolitan Police say
- Muslim Council: Act will no doubt heighten tensions on British streets
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A dramatic video tonight emerged of a man with bloodied hands, carrying knives and ranting 'We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you', after a serving soldier was hacked to death by two men just 200 yards from an Army barracks.
The man can be seen and heard talking to the camera. The video came as terrified eyewitnesses saw two men shot by police marksmen after the machete attack in Woolwich, south-east London.
The two men are thought to have waited around for 20 minutes until Metropolitan Police officers arrived and then tried to attack them - but were swiftly shot by armed policemen, including a woman.
They apparently shouted 'Allahu Akbar', which means 'God is great' in Arabic, and tried to film the attack, the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe tonight confirmed two men had been arrested and officers from the counter-terrorist unit were leading the investigation into the killing.
Shocking: This exclusive still from a video obtained by ITV News shows a man with bloodied hands and carrying knives speaking to a camera in Woolwich, south-east London
Statement: ITV News obtained footage of a man with bloodied hands and knives speaking to a camera
He said: 'It is hard to comprehend the shocking and horrific scenes we have seen this afternoon on a busy street as Londoners went about their day as normal. We have launched a murder investigation.'
Theresa May tonight called a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee in response to the machete and knife attack on the man who was wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt.
The Home Secretary said she had been briefed on the killing by the head of MI5 and police later confirmed they were treating the incident as a possible terror attack.
The Cobra meeting heard that security has been tightened at Woolwich barracks and increased at all London barracks. It was also told there are strong indications that this was a terrorist incident.
Mrs May said said: ‘What happened today in Woolwich was a sickening and barbaric attack. This attack was an attack on everyone in the UK. It will be condemned by people from every community.
‘We have seen terrorism on the streets of Britain before, and have always stood firm against it. Despicable acts like these will not go unpunished.’
On the ground: Two men were shot by police marksmen after the machete attack in south-east London
Scene: One man died at the scene here in John Wilson Street, south London this afternoon while two were seriously injured
Meanwhile Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled a meeting with French President Francois Hollande to return to London. He said Britain has faced similar terror attacks before and added: ‘We will never buckle in the face of it.’
'We have seen terrorism on the streets of Britain before, and have always stood firm against it. Despicable acts like these will not go unpunished'
Home Secretary Theresa May
Before the dramatic video of the bloodied man was obtained by ITV News, eyewitnesses said the 'crazed' men in their 20s launched a ferocious attack and were 'hacking, chopping and cutting him.'
In footage released by ITV News, a man with bloodied hands carrying a knife and a machete addresses people holding a camera, where he appears to attempt to justify the incident.
Speaking to those recording the scene he says: 'I apologise that women had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same.
'You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don't care about you.'
In footage obtained by The Sun, he can also be heard saying: 'You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns you think politicians are going to die?
Forensics: Investigative works continue into the evening as police probe the scene in Woolwich
Two men were rushed to hospital this afternoon while another man died after apparently being hacked to death in Woolwich
From above: This video grab from an ITV News broadcast shows an aerial view of the investigation scene
Investigations: A forensic tent is erected near the scene of the attack in Woolwich, south-east, London
Probe: Police forensics officers investigate a car at a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich
Tribute: Flowers lie near the crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, south-east London
'No it's going to be the average guy, like you, and your children. So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so you can all live in peace.'
Following his outburst, the man walks back towards where the victim is lying in the middle of the road. He then speaks to another man as they stand near to the victim.
SHOCKED EYEWITNESS SAYS MAN WAS 'HACKED, CHOPPED AND CUT'
An eyewitness who watched a man brutally killed with a machete-style knife and dumped in a street tonight dramatically revealed how he watched the two attackers behave like 'crazed animals'.
The man, known only as James, said he and his partner saw two black men attack a young man aged around 20 in a Help for Heroes T-shirt like he was ‘a piece of meat’.
Fighting back tears, he told LBC Radio: ‘They were hacking at this poor guy, literally. They were chopping him, cutting him. These two guys were crazed. They were just animals.
'They dragged him from the pavement, dumped his body in the middle of the road and left (it) there.’
He said that after the ‘horrendous’ attack, the two men, in their 20s, stood around, waving knives and a gun, even asking people nearby to take pictures of them ‘as if they wanted to be on TV’.
‘They were oblivious to anything, they were more worried about having their photo taken, running up and down the road,’ he said.
‘They had no intention of running off or leaving or anything. In my opinion, they were waiting for the police to arrive to be shot by the police. That's the only thing I can think. It's horrendous what they were doing to that guy.’
Women are later seen bravely tending to the man lying. The footage appears to have been taken before any of the emergency services have arrived at the scene.
The man who filmed the video told ITV News that the bloodied man said he was not under threat, telling him: 'No - it's cool, I just want to talk to you.'
He said that he was a little scared at first but soon realised he was not in danger.
Later footage has also emerged from shortly after police fired at two men. One of the men can be seen lying in the road, while the second is laid on the pavement.
The footage taken after the shootings was reported to have been taken by a man who had been on a bus on his way to a job interview.
One eyewitness claimed one of the soldier's attackers was seen last week preaching in Woolwich.
Jamie France, 29, a local musician, said: ‘I spoke to my mum on the phone and showed her the video footage from the internet. She told me that she recognised one of the men with the knife.
‘She said she'd seen him last week preaching in Woolwich town centre. She said she remembers him because he'd been really angry and was saying all this political stuff.’
Mr Cameron said on Twitter that 'the killing in Woolwich is truly shocking - I have asked the Home Secretary to chair a Cobra meeting.'
Help for Heroes, the charity whose T-shirt witnesses said the victim was wearing, said: 'Help for Heroes is appalled to hear that a man, believed to be a serving soldier, has been brutally murdered in Woolwich today.
'We are desperately saddened to hear of this sickening attack and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, colleagues and friends.'
The charity's website crashed as Britons queued up to pledge their support to it following the Woolwich killing, but it was up and running again a short while after.
Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is cutting short a visit to Germany to return to the UK, said: ‘This is a truly appalling murder which will shock the entire country. All of my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.
'People across our country, whatever background they are from, will be united in condemning this attack and we will stand together, as we always do, in our response'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
‘The British people will be horrified by what has happened in Woolwich. They will be united in believing that this terror on our streets cannot be allowed to stand.'
And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: 'This afternoon witnessed a shocking and horrifying murder on the streets of our capital. The whole nation's thoughts will be with the family and friends of the victim this evening.
'People across our country, whatever background they are from, will be united in condemning this attack and we will stand together, as we always do, in our response.'
Patrol: An armed soldier stands guard outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London
Near the scene: The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, pictured after the attack
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The Queen is of course concerned by the report of an attack in Woolwich earlier today. Her Majesty is being kept informed.'
The spokesman also confirmed the Queen will visit the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich barracks on May 31, which was planned before today's attack.
'We will never buckle in the face of terrorism'
Prime Minister David Cameron
This afternoon the area’s MP, Nick Raynsford, told BBC Radio 5 Live he believed the victim, a man aged in his 20s, was a serving soldier.
The man is believed to have been hacked to death after a car crash. The scene of the attack is just 200 yards from Woolwich Barracks.
Mr Raynsford said: 'We think a serving soldier was the victim. We don't know the circumstances surrounding the incident. We do know a number of weapons have been seized.
'They include a gun, various knives, and a machete, apparently. The police clearly had to take action in order to try and arrest these individuals.'
He also told Channel 4 News: 'It is my understanding this man was a serving soldier based at the barracks. He had been on duty in central London and was making his way back to the barracks.'
Investigation: An air ambulance can be seen at the scene which is cordoned off after a soldier was hacked to death this afternoon
Probe: The incident is believed to have started after this car crashed. Fluid can be seen which has leaked from the car
Weapons: Forensic experts bag up evidence at the scene which is believed to include a number of weapons
A statement from the Muslim Council of Britain said it understood the victim was a member of the Armed Forces.
It said: 'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.
'We understand the victim is a serving member of the Armed Forces. Muslims have long served in this country's Armed Forces, proudly and with honour.
'This attack on a member of the Armed Forces is dishonourable, and no cause justifies this murder. This action will no doubt heighten tensions on the streets of the United Kingdom.
'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly'
Muslim Council of Britain
'We call on all our communities, Muslim and non-Muslim, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail.'
Locals at the scene were warned police may have to carry out a controlled explosion on the attackers' car.
A father of three, who referred to himself only as Kwamu, said two police officers came to his flat, in a block just yards from the attack on John Wilson Road, at around 7pm to tell him to leave his home.
He said: ‘They knocked on my door about an hour ago, two police officers. The woman police officer told me to get my family together and get out. She said they think there could be a bomb in the car.
‘I was getting my daughters ready to go outside but when I went down the stairs some people from the block were going in. They told me that police now want us to stay inside. It is very frightening.’
The Ministry of Defence said it was urgently looking at the reports that the incident involved a soldier but had no further comment.
Killing: The attack happened on John Wilson Street in Woolwich, south-east London, this afternoon, close to the military barracks
Probe: Police cordon off surrounding roads after a man was killed in Woolwich, south London, this afternoon
Military: The victim was a serving soldier and is believed to be based at the nearby Woolwich barracks
Footage from a TV news helicopter showed a large number of weapons lying in the street following the incident. A London Ambulance Service spokesman said one man had died at the scene.
PREVIOUS ATTACK ON SOLDIER
In February 2008 a Birmingham man was jailed for life for plotting to kidnap and kill a British Muslim soldier.
Parviz Khan admitted planning to lure the soldier off the streets with the promise of drugs - then film his beheading.
He was described in court as having 'the most violent and extreme Islamist views', and the judge said his aim was to deter any Muslim from joining the British Army.
Khan was ordered to serve at least 14 years in jail.
He added: 'Our staff treated two others. Both men were taken to hospital, one of them is in a serious condition, the other is not.'
One witness, identified as James, said he and his partner saw two black men attack the young victim with knives, including a meat cleaver. 'They were hacking at this poor guy, literally,' he told LBC.
Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford confirmed tonight that the two attackers were shot by armed officers.
He said in a statement: 'At approximately 1420 we were called to reports of an assault in John Wilson Street, Woolwich, where one man was being assaulted by two other men.
'A number of weapons were reportedly being used in the attack and this included reports of a firearm.
'Officers including local Greenwich officers arrived at the scene and shortly after firearms officers arrived on the scene.
Police cordon: The area in Woolwich has been sealed off as an investigation gets underway
'On their arrival at the scene they found a man, who was later pronounced dead. At this early stage I am unable to provide any further information about the man who has died.
ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS
The incident occurred some 200 yards from the Royal Artillery Barracks, adjacent to Woolwich Common, the historical home of the Royal Artillery.
The barracks, also known as the Woolwich station, now houses a number of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and independent companies of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards.
Woolwich Common remains a designated military training area.
The shooting events at the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held at a temporary venue at the Barracks.
'Two men, who we believe from early reports to have been carrying weapons, were shot by police. They were taken to separate London hospitals. They are receiving treatment for their injuries.
'I can understand that this incident will cause community concerns and I would like to reiterate that we are investigating what has taken place today.
Luke Huseyin, 32, who lives in a block of flats on John Wilson Street, Woolwich, close to where the incident happened said he watched two men murder a man before being shot.
He said: 'I was at home and heard a big bang. I looked out of the window and saw a car had crashed.
'It was a blue Vauxhall. Then two black guys got out of the car dragging a white guy across the road towards the wall. One of the guys had a knife that looked about a foot long and a machete and the other bloke had a gun.
'They started slashing him up with the knife and hitting him in the stomach with the machete. I don't think it took long before he was dead. There were people passing by who were screaming and running away. I've never seen anything like it.
Probe: A white forensics tent is set up near the scene, close to where the car has crashed
Horror: A large crowd gathers at the scene in Woolwich as police and ambulance services arrive after a man was apparently stabbed to death
Probe: An air ambulance can be seen landing at the scene in Woolwich, south London, this afternoon. Two men were later rushed to hospital while a third man died
'I'm still really shaken up. When he was dead, they dragged him out into the road and left him there. It was strange, they didn't run off, they just stood there as if they were waiting for the police.
'It must have taken about 20 minutes for the police to arrive, I think it must've been because they were waiting for armed police.
'The police officers got out of the car and the two black men ran towards them with the gun.
'The police shot them. They fell to the ground. Then a helicopter landed. Think it must've been an air ambulance.
'The paramedics got out and I think they were working on the two men to try and keep them alive.
'I don't know if they died, they were taken away in the helicopter. A blanket was put over the white guy lying in the road. 'I just can't believe what I saw.'
Evidence bags: Police forensic officers collect evidence from the scene in Woolwich, south London, this afternoon
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