The Spectator

‘Soldier beheaded’ in Woolwich, south London – live reaction

Summary: A British solider has been reported to have been beheaded on the streets of Woolwich, south east London by two men at 2:20pm afternoon. The BBC is reporting the murder may have been filmed over cries of ‘Allahu Akbar’ . ITV has released footage of a man carrying a bloodied knife saying ‘remove your governments – they don’t care about you.’ 

Home Secretary Theresa May chaired a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency response committee, suggesting that the incident was a terrorist attack. Police shot two men, who had lingered at the scene. They are receiving emergency treatment at separate hospitals. 


2121: Theresa May has made a short statement following the Cobra meeting earlier:

‘What happened in today Woolwich was a sickening and barbaric attack. I have been briefed by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Director General of the Security Service’ ‘The police and the Security Service are establishing the full facts of this barbaric case, but there is a strong indication it was an act of terrorism.’

2051: The BBC have released a photo of a second man holding a knife in Woolwich:

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2027: Fraser Nelson offers his thoughts about why the government is concerned about what happens next:

‘If this is a terrorist attack – and the government is certainly treating it like one – it is like no other. There are pictures of the suspected murderer lingering after the attack, and locals remonstrating with him.  A man with bloodied hands talks into a video camera saying ‘remove your governments’ as an elderly women nudges past him with a shopping bag. He is waiting for the police to arrive. There is no suggestion of future or copycat attacks, but the Cobra Cabinet meeting will be as concerned with the reaction in the streets this evening than what happened at 2pm this afternoon.

2012: The Muslim Council of Britain has released a statement, condemning the attack:

‘This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our

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