‘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.