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Woolwich Terror Attack: Updates

Victim of attack is identified. Cameron: "An attack on Britain and a betrayal of Islam." WARNING: Graphic content.

Footage of the shooting has emerged.

View this video on YouTube

This shows the moment that the suspected killers Michael Adebolajo and Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale ran for police and were shot.

Victim Of Attack Identified As Lee Rigby

UPDATE: The Ministry of Defence says the soldier killed on Wednesday was Drummer Lee Rigby, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

According to a statement from the Ministry, Rigby was born in July 1987 in Crumpsall, Manchester. He had a 2-year-old son.

"An extremely popular and witty soldier, Drummer Rigby was a larger than life personality within the Corps of Drums and was well known, liked and respected across the Second Fusiliers. He was a passionate and life-long Manchester United fan," the statement read.

UPDATE: Senior Whitehall sources have told the BBC that both suspects in yesterday's murder were known to security services for their radical views – but are not thought to have been under surveillance.

Surge in donations crashes Help For Heroes website.

Police confirm they are carrying out extra patrols following the attack and the EDL protests in Woolwich.

1/2 We're working closely with communities across London and carrying out a range of activities including...#woolwich

Metropolitan Police

@metpoliceuk

1/2 We're working closely with communities across London and carrying out a range of activities including...#woolwich

2/2 Extra patrols at key locations such as religious venues, transport hubs&busy areas. Meetings with local community leaders&other partners

Metropolitan Police

@metpoliceuk

2/2 Extra patrols at key locations such as religious venues, transport hubs&busy areas. Meetings with local community leaders&other partners

The Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a statement.

View this video on YouTube

In full:

"What happened yesterday in Woolwich has sickened us all.

On our televisions last night and in our newspapers this morning we have all seen images that are deeply shocking.

The people who did this are trying to divide us - they should know that something like this will only bring us together and make us stronger.

Today our thoughts are with the victim and with his family. They are grieving for their loved one and we have lost a brave soldier.

This morning I have chaired a meeting of Cobra.

And I want to thank the police and security services for the incredible work they do to keep our country safe.

There are police investigations and security service operations under way, so obviously there is a limit on what I can say, but already a number of things are clear.

First, this country will be absolutely resolute in its stand against violent extremism and terror.

We will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms.

Second, this view is shared by every community in our country.

This was not just an attack on Britain and on the British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam, and of the Muslim communities who give so much to our country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act.

We will defeat violent extremism by standing together, by backing our police and security services, and above all by challenging the poisonous narrative of extremism on which this violence feeds.

Britain works with our international partners to make the world safe from terrorism, terrorism that has taken more Muslim lives than any other religion. It is an utter perversion of the truth to pretend anything different.

That is why there is absolutely no justification for these attacks and the fault for them lies solely and purely with the sickening individuals who carried out this appalling attack.

Confronting extremism is a job for us all, and the fact that our communities will unite in doing this was vividly demonstrated by the brave Cub pack leader, Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, who confronted one of the attackers on the streets of Woolwich yesterday afternoon.

When told by the attacker he wanted to start a war in London, she replied: "You're going to lose. It is only you versus many."

She spoke for us all.

The police and security services will follow every lead, will turn over every piece of evidence, will make every connection, and will not rest until we know every single detail of what happened and we have brought all of this responsible to justice.

I know from three years of being prime minister that the police and intelligence services work around the clock to keep us safe from violent extremism. I watch their work every week. They do an outstanding job. They show incredible heroism, much of which cannot be reported.

They have my staunch support and the support of the whole country.

The point that the two suspects in this horrific attack were known to the security services has been widely reported. You would not expect me to comment on this when a criminal investigation is ongoing, but what I can say is this: as is the normal practice in these sorts of cases, the Independent Police Complaints Commission will be able to review the actions of the police, and the intelligence and security committee will be able to do the same for the wider agencies, but nothing should be done to get in the way of their absolutely vital work.

After an event like this, it is natural that questions will be asked about what additional steps can be taken to keep us safe.

I will make sure those questions are asked and answered, but I’m not in favour of knee-jerk responses. The police have responded with heightened security and activity, and that is right, but one of the best ways of defeating terrorism is to go about our normal lives, and that is what we shall all do."

I will be making a statement shortly. One of the best ways to defeat terrorism is to go about our normal lives

David Cameron

@David_Cameron

I will be making a statement shortly. One of the best ways to defeat terrorism is to go about our normal lives

Tributes left at Woolwich Barracks.

UPDATE:

The No 10 press office has put out a statement about this morning's Cobra meeting, which lasted about an hour.

A spokesman said:

There was an operational update from the police and agencies into the ongoing investigation and an update from the MOD [Ministry of Defence] on protective security.

There was a discussion about community cohesion. The strength and unity of response from Muslim community leaders was recognised and commended by ministers and others around the table.

The PM is expected to make a statement to the media on the attack shortly.

Present at the meeting were:

The home secretary, Theresa May.

The defence secretary, Philip Hammond.

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

The commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The Met's assistant commissioner, Cressida Dick.

Minister for faith and communities, Lady Warsi.

The communities secretary, Eric Pickles.

'Intelligence agencies.'

UPDATE: ITV news obtained video of a man with bloodied hands wielding a knife and a cleaver near the scene of the attack. The man apologises that women had to witness the attack [WARNING: GRAPHIC].

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Transcript of killer's rant to onlookers after attack:

"The reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers.

And this British soldier is one. It is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. By Allah, we swear by the almighty Allah we will never stop fighting until you leave us alone.

So what if we want to live by the Sharia in Muslim lands? Why does that means you must follow us and chase us and call us extremists and kill us.

Rather you lot are extreme. You are the ones that when you drop a bomb you think it hits one person?

Or rather your bomb wipes out a whole family?

That is the reality. By Allah if I saw your mother today with a buggy I would help her up their stairs. This is my nature.

We are forced by (inaudible Arabic) through many passages in the Koran we must fight them as they fight us.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

I apologise that women had to witness this today but in our lands women have to see the same.

You people will never be safe. Remove your governments, they don't care about you.

You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our gun, you think politicians are going to die? 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 we can all live in peace.

So leave our lands and we can all live in peace, that's all I have to say.

Allah's peace and blessings be upon you."

One man was killed and two others were injured following a violent attack incident in Woolwich, South East London, on Wednesday. The Associated Press reported that two wounded men allegedly attacked the deceased. The two men were then shot by police and are being treated for their injuries.

An eyewitness called James — who saw the incident and called the police — speaks to LBC's Iain Dale:

"The attackers were asking people to take their photos."

From James' eyewitness interview (above):

These two guys were crazed. They were just animals. They dragged him from the pavement and dumped his body in the middle of the road and left his body there.

They were oblivious to anything, they were more worried about having their photo taken, running up and down the road. They had no intention of running off or leaving or anything. It's horrendous what they were doing to that guy.

More eyewitness accounts:

Photo from the scene:

˙˙˙pǝʇɐןnqoqɯoɔsıp

@CrazyGoose

@C_Clamps @sand0khxn

3 bodies here

Woolwich and Greenwich MP Nick Raynsford claims victim was a soldier, MoD investigating.

Call of Duty: Woolwich “@paulwaugh: Reports of soldier dead in #Woolwich incident. Two suspects shot dead ”

˙˙˙pǝʇɐןnqoqɯoɔsıp

@CrazyGoose

Call of Duty: Woolwich

“@paulwaugh: Reports of soldier dead in #Woolwich incident. Two suspects shot dead ”

PICTURE: New aerial image from BBC News helicopter shows scene of incident in #Woolwich where one person found dead

BBC News (UK)

@BBCNews

PICTURE: New aerial image from BBC News helicopter shows scene of incident in #Woolwich where one person found dead

PIC: Aerial image from BBC News helicopter of "serious incident" in #Woolwich, south-east London via @BBCBreaking

Alex Barnett

@Alexbarnett77

PIC: Aerial image from BBC News helicopter of "serious incident" in #Woolwich, south-east London via @BBCBreaking

A Twitter user called Boya Dee has claimed to have witnessed the attack. This is what he has said so far.

Ohhhhh myyyy God!!!! I just see a man with his head chopped off right in front of my eyes!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Ohhhhh myyyy God!!!! I just see a man with his head chopped off right in front of my eyes!

Woolwich #se18 whyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! Fuck!!!! Right next to a primary school!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Woolwich #se18 whyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! Fuck!!!! Right next to a primary school!

Oh my God!!!! The way Feds took them out!!! It was a female police officer she come out the whip and just started bussssin shots!!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Oh my God!!!! The way Feds took them out!!! It was a female police officer she come out the whip and just started bussssin shots!!

Mate ive seen alot of shit im my time but that has to rank sumwhere in the top 3. I couldnt believe my eyes. That was some movie shit

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Mate ive seen alot of shit im my time but that has to rank sumwhere in the top 3. I couldnt believe my eyes. That was some movie shit

The two black bredas run this white guy over over then hop out the car and start chopping mans head off with machete!!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

The two black bredas run this white guy over over then hop out the car and start chopping mans head off with machete!!

People were asking whyyy whyyy they were just saying we've had enough! They looked like they were on sutn! Then they start waving a recolver

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

People were asking whyyy whyyy they were just saying we've had enough! They looked like they were on sutn! Then they start waving a recolver

Then boydem turn up!! Woolwich feds didnt want it... They had to wait for armed response.. Helicopters everyting...

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Then boydem turn up!! Woolwich feds didnt want it... They had to wait for armed response.. Helicopters everyting...

Then thats how u know they were on sutn cos they actually went for armed feds with just two machete and an old rusty lookin revolver

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Then thats how u know they were on sutn cos they actually went for armed feds with just two machete and an old rusty lookin revolver

The first guy goes for the female fed with the machete and she not even ramping she took man out like robocop never seen nutn like it

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

The first guy goes for the female fed with the machete and she not even ramping she took man out like robocop never seen nutn like it

Then the next breda try buss off the rusty 45 and it just backfires and blows mans finger clean off... Feds didnt pet to just take him out!!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Then the next breda try buss off the rusty 45 and it just backfires and blows mans finger clean off... Feds didnt pet to just take him out!!

These times i was just going to the shop for some fruit and veg and i see all that!

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

These times i was just going to the shop for some fruit and veg and i see all that!

The PM responds:

PM: "The killing in #Woolwich is truly shocking – I have asked the Home Secretary to chair a COBRA meeting"

UK Prime Minister

@Number10gov

PM: "The killing in #Woolwich is truly shocking – I have asked the Home Secretary to chair a COBRA meeting"

UPDATE: The BBC is now reporting that the government is treating the incident as a suspected terrorist attack, according to a Whitehall source.

BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson is reporting that the men may have been filmed, and that the attackers were 'Muslim in appearance' and shouted 'Allahu aqbar' — 'God is the greatest' — during the assault.

UPDATE: The Daily Mail is reporting that Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris and is returning to London in response to the attack.

Facebook memorial page tops 1m likes.

Boya Dee

The Twitter user Boya Dee now claims he has turned down significant sums of money to sell his story.

Thanks for all the kind messages. What I saw yesterday was horrific & my subsequent tweets said it all.

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Thanks for all the kind messages. What I saw yesterday was horrific & my subsequent tweets said it all.

Since the incident occurred, I've been offered up to £75k from media outlets for my story. I've turned them all down.

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

Since the incident occurred, I've been offered up to £75k from media outlets for my story. I've turned them all down.

This story is not about ME And doesn't need to be sensationalised anymore by me selling my story for a few bucks.

Boya Dee

@BOYADEE

This story is not about ME And doesn't need to be sensationalised anymore by me selling my story for a few bucks.

al-Shabaab Tweet in sympathy with attackers.

The Somalia-based militia group al-Shabaab has posted a series of tweets expressing sympathy for the Woolwich attackers and criticising David Cameron.

What Cameron describes as a “sickening” attack is what innocent Muslim woman and children are subjected to every day by #British troops

HSMPress

@HSMPRESS1

What Cameron describes as a “sickening” attack is what innocent Muslim woman and children are subjected to every day by #British troops

The death of the wretched Kafir is insignificant compared to the deaths of hundreds of innocent Muslims at the hands of British soldiers

HSMPress

@HSMPRESS1

The death of the wretched Kafir is insignificant compared to the deaths of hundreds of innocent Muslims at the hands of British soldiers

Toulouse, Boston, Woolwich…Where next? You just have to grin and bear it, it’s inevitable. A case of the chickens coming home to roost!

HSMPress

@HSMPRESS1

Toulouse, Boston, Woolwich…Where next? You just have to grin and bear it, it’s inevitable. A case of the chickens coming home to roost!