The card on a floral tribute is displayed at Woolwich Barracks in London on May 22, 2013 after a man believed to be a serving British soldier was brutally murdered nearby in what Prime Minister David Cameron said appeared to be a terrorist attack. PHOTO: AFP
Two suspects were arrested following the attack, which happened in broad daylight, but not before they had launched a filmed tirade against Britain's involvement in Afghanistan.
"We killed this British soldier. It's an eye for an eye," said the Sun's headline, quoting from the recorded message.
The Daily Telegraph ran with the headline "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. We won't stop fighting you until you leave us alone."
Also quoting the attacker, the Guardian carried the words "You people will never be safe," on top of a picture of the suspect waving a bloodied hand and wielding a meat cleaver.
The Daily Mail used the same picture on its front page above the headline "Blood on his hands, hatred in his eyes".
The Sun described the attack as "almost beyond belief" in its editorial.
The victim was believed to have been wearing a jumper supporting Help for Heroes, an armed forces charity championed by the paper.
In its editorial, the Sun called on Britons to rally behind their servicemen.
"Today we must defy the extremists and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our armed services," it said.
"We must show our support in words and in actions. And if you see a soldier today, shake them by the hand and say thank you," it urged.
The Daily Telegraph's editorial backed Prime Minister David Cameron's assertion that the country would "never buckle" to terrorists.
"One of the most welcome developments in recent years has been the rebuilding of the connections between our soldiers and the citizens they protect," it said.
"If it transpires that terrorists have indeed taken a grisly revenge for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, there will need to be an urgent review of current security arrangements for all military personnel.
"But we should also remember that the Prime Minister is right. Britain's enemies, both within and without, want to destroy not just our lives but our values - including our pride in and support for the Armed Forces. And that is something they will never do," it concluded.
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@Sexton Blake: Please note that when you ask @Sexton Blake for credible references to back up his comments, he suggests that you look it up yourself!!!
@numbersnumbers: "Do I have credible reference in regard to UK brutality". Dear numbers, The answer to your question is yes, but why should I tell you? It is reasonably obvious that you cannot comprehend simple logic, and I would not even wish to overload you with the concept of inferential statistics and objectivity. However, instead of wasting everybody's time why don't you Google freely available data on the brutality of UK/US/NATO/ISRAELI military forces in countries all over the world, and then, just maybe we could have a low level discourse, but I have my doubts.
All the numb skulls blogging to this thread are the ones beyond belief! This so called crime of murder was not committed by terrorists! it was committed by two individuals wielding knives and cleavers! with a political grievance against the British military! If this had taken place in Iraq it would be an act of war by guerrilla/irregular forces'. It amazes me that after the western military declaring the whole world a war zone a battlefield and taking action on that premise they whinge and complain when others do the same and attack these western military where ever they are found! The press always have to blow up stories like this beyond reason to demonize the Islamic faith and the perpetrators always have to make the statements for the press if not the press will make them up anyway! After the murder passers bye talked and remonstrated with these two individual criminals there was no terror or fear! but the media are required to call them terrorists to create the illusion of fear and terror! how dam dumb and stupid is that?
Single Person act should not impact the religion of peace.........Terrorist, Killer of innocent people do not have any religion......We still commited ISLAM IS RELIGION OF PEACE.............Who supplied the FAKE BOMB DETECTOR DEVICE..........No justice because he is millionier person.........Did he belongs to Islam......
@Dr K Saleem:
Oh, should Muslims start lining up to be shot by British military? That will certainly help in propagating the peaceful image. Fact is that guy was part of British military, which is at war with Muslims. Take that into account.
@Sexton Blake: And of course you can give us credible references to support your comment that the British military "routinely" kills hundreds of thousands in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya! NOT!!!
@Sexton Blake: Before Sep 2001, there was no invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. Why do you think 9/11 happened? {Unless, of course, in a state of supreme denial, you label it a conspiracy.) Muslims ruled and dominated the world for a long time too. The injustice that you talk about was perpetrated by the Muslims a 1000 times more. The rest of the world were biding their time. What goes around comes around. What are you complaining about Sir?
@BruteForce: Dear BruteForce, Dr. K Saleem, It appears that you have not been keeping track of the news. English military personnel have been routinely killing Muslims and destroying the infrastructure of several Muslim countries for the last 12 years. Muslims appear to be like boy scouts compared to the British.
@Dr K Saleem:
I share the same sentiments. I don't think our communities, Pakistani or non-Pakistani, have realized the religious and political ideological crisis. When a country as far away as Canada labels its number one foreign and domestic threat as Wahhabi/Salafi/Sunni Islamist extremism, there should be some introspection.
@Dr K Saleem:
Absolutely!
There are a Billion more Christians in this world than Muslims, but you don't hear such as this from them do you. In terms of pure numbers violence in the name of Religion is probably the highest among only one set of Religious group.
Brutal act......should not go unpunished.
I have an English friend whom I have known for over 20 years. He was a very liberal person. When I met him again three years back he had become very critical of Muslims. This kind of murder and way the killing was done just does not help the image of Muslims. You have to live in the West to understand. We cannot keeping repeating Islam is the religion of peace. No one believes us. We need to acknowledge there is some wrong in the way our religion is practiced currently.
A Christian terrorist paying back for the war in Afghanistan?
Killing is not very pleasant. Perhaps the UK should keep this in mind when it orders its military to routinely kill hundreds of thousands, including many children, in diverse areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.