Soldier is hacked to death by Muslim men just yards from barracks in London
- Thread starter Blackleaf
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The murdered soldier has been named as Drummer Lee Rigby of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He was aged 25.
Tragically, Lee leaves behind not only a wife but also a two-year-old son named Jack.
Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, leaves behind his wife Rebecca and his two-year-old son Jack
Lee was from the Middleton area of Manchester and he joined the army in 2006. He had served in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus, yet he was killed in a street in his own capital city.
Most of the rest of Drummer Lee's battalion are curently in Afghanistan but he was at the Woolwich Barracks because he took up a post with the Regimental Recruiting Team in London in 2011.
Capt Alan Williamson said: "Drummer Rigby or 'Riggers' as he was known within the platoon was a cheeky and humorous man, always there with a joke to brighten the mood."
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This was a senseless murder of a soldier who has served the Army faithfully in a variety of roles including operational tours in Afghanistan.
"Our thoughts today are with his family and loved ones who are trying to come to terms with this terrible loss."
Mr Hammond was asked if the attack showed how vulnerable soldiers were, whether they were in uniform or not.
He replied: "I think it reminds us how vulnerable we all are, but it also reminds us, by the response of the public, that we are not going to be cowed by this kind of terrorist action."
Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said: "It's always a tragedy, it's particularly poignant that it happened on the streets of this capital city of ours.
"We're absolutely determined not to be intimidated into not doing the right thing - whether it's here in this country or in Afghanistan or wherever we seek to serve the nation."
The Ministry of Defence also paid tribute to Drummer Rigby.
"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."
Career: Drummer Rigby, 25, known as 'Riggers', was known as a brave soldier
Distraught: Rebecca Rigby, the wife of murdered soldier Lee Rigby, cries during a family press conference today
Tribute: Under a board celebrating Lee's regiment, the Fusiliers, his loved ones (left to right) Sara McClure (sister), his mother and stepfather Lyn and Ian Rigby, wife Rebecca Rigby, Susan Metcalfe (mother-in-law) and Ray Dutton (brother-in-law) at the Regimental HQ of his unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Bury, Greater Manchester.
Proud: Lee Rigby with (left to right), his wife Rebecca Rigby, sisters Sara McClure and Chelsea Rigby, Lee Rigby and his mother and stepfather, Lyn and Ian Rigby
A great character: Father of one and soldier Rigby, of Greater Manchester, pictured relaxing on Army leave
Holding hands: The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby, Lyn, is supported by her daughter Sara McClure, whilst she holds a teddy bear bought by Lee for his son, Jack
Murderer: Michael Adebowale, 22
Suspect's sister: Blessing Adebolajo, 32, smiles as she gets into an unmarked police car outside her home in Romford, north east London, yesterday morning
Flowers: A father and his young son take flowers to the spot outside the Woolwich barracks where Drummer Rigby was killed
Tearful: The mother of a friend of Drummer Lee Rigby weeps as she lays flowers near the scene of his death
A prayer service for Drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier killed by two assailants in south-east London on Wednesday, has taken place in Greater Manchester.
People at the service in Middleton, Manchester, lit candles in memory of Drummer Rigby
The prayer service saw people from the Langley estate gather in All Saints and Martyrs' Burnside Community Centre.
Jim Dobbin, the Labour Co-operative MP for Heywood and Middleton, said Drummer Rigby's death had "absolutely traumatised" people on the estate.
The Reverend Philip Miller, who led the service, said it had been a chance to "support the Rigby family".
"Obviously, it is incredibly hard for them but these lovely people need to know that they are supported [by the community]."
He said it was important for "everybody to respect the family's privacy".
People who attended the service, which included prayers and readings, lit candles in memory of Drummer Rigby.
Floral tributes have been left in the garden of the Rigby family's home on the estate, where the soldier grew up.
Tragically, Lee leaves behind not only a wife but also a two-year-old son named Jack.
Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, leaves behind his wife Rebecca and his two-year-old son Jack
Lee was from the Middleton area of Manchester and he joined the army in 2006. He had served in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus, yet he was killed in a street in his own capital city.
Most of the rest of Drummer Lee's battalion are curently in Afghanistan but he was at the Woolwich Barracks because he took up a post with the Regimental Recruiting Team in London in 2011.
Capt Alan Williamson said: "Drummer Rigby or 'Riggers' as he was known within the platoon was a cheeky and humorous man, always there with a joke to brighten the mood."
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This was a senseless murder of a soldier who has served the Army faithfully in a variety of roles including operational tours in Afghanistan.
"Our thoughts today are with his family and loved ones who are trying to come to terms with this terrible loss."
Mr Hammond was asked if the attack showed how vulnerable soldiers were, whether they were in uniform or not.
He replied: "I think it reminds us how vulnerable we all are, but it also reminds us, by the response of the public, that we are not going to be cowed by this kind of terrorist action."
Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said: "It's always a tragedy, it's particularly poignant that it happened on the streets of this capital city of ours.
"We're absolutely determined not to be intimidated into not doing the right thing - whether it's here in this country or in Afghanistan or wherever we seek to serve the nation."
The Ministry of Defence also paid tribute to Drummer Rigby.
"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."
Career: Drummer Rigby, 25, known as 'Riggers', was known as a brave soldier
The bereft family of executed soldier Lee Rigby today described him as 'our hero' and said: 'We loved you so much, you didn’t deserve this'.
His estranged wife Rebecca, mother of his son Jack, two, revealed the former couple had agreed to meet this weekend to 'continue our future together as a family' before his life was brutally taken away in Woolwich, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, south east London, on Wednesday.
Mrs Rigby burst into tears as she said she never dreamed that her husband might be killed in Britain, adding: 'You think they’re safe.'
Lee's stepfather Ian Rigby added: 'When in Afghanistan, you come to terms with it, you know it’s dangerous, you don’t expect something like that on your doorstep. It’s very difficult'.
He also sobbed as he described how he found out about the killing on TV and tried to contact his step-son immediately.
'Really as soon as it came on the news on television, obviously we didn’t know it was Lee but your heart skips a beat when you see something like that on TV, you know your son is in that area,' he said.
'As soon as it was on the telly we were attempting to get hold of Lee, obviously we couldn’t and it was the middle of the night probably when we got confirmed to us it was Lee.'
Distraught: Rebecca Rigby, the wife of murdered soldier Lee Rigby, cries during a family press conference today
Tribute: Under a board celebrating Lee's regiment, the Fusiliers, his loved ones (left to right) Sara McClure (sister), his mother and stepfather Lyn and Ian Rigby, wife Rebecca Rigby, Susan Metcalfe (mother-in-law) and Ray Dutton (brother-in-law) at the Regimental HQ of his unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Bury, Greater Manchester.
A great character: Father of one and soldier Rigby, of Greater Manchester, pictured relaxing on Army leave
The family paid tribute during an emotional press conference at the Regimental HQ of his unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Bury, Greater Manchester.
Machinegunner Rigby, who recently served in Afghanistan, was hacked to death in broad daylight by Islamist fanatics as he walked back to Woolwich Barracks in south-east London, where he was stationed.
Two men, Michael Adebowale, 22, and Michael Adebolajo, 28, are believed to have carried out the atrocity and are under arrest in separate London hospitals after being shot by armed police.
'I love Lee and always will. I am proud to be his wife and he was due to come up this weekend so we could continue our future together as a family,' his wife Rebecca said today.
Holding hands: The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby, Lyn, is supported by her daughter Sara McClure, whilst she holds a teddy bear bought by Lee for his son, Jack
Asked about the shock of the attack being on British soil, she added: 'You don’t expect it to happen when he’s in the UK.'
Lee’s stepfather Ian read out a statement on behalf of and prepared by the whole family.
'What can we say about Lee, our hero, we are so so proud of Lee,' he said.
'When Lee was born the family adored him, he was a precious gift given to us.
'Lee had a fiery temper when he was younger, I used to sit on him to calm him down till he got too big at 15, then he used to sit on me.
'Lee’s dream growing up was always to join the army which he succeeded in doing, he was dedicated and loved his job.'
He also read Lee's last text to his mother Lyn, Ian's partner, sent on an evening before his death which said: 'Goodnight mum, I hope you had a fantastic day today because you are the most fantastic and one in a million mum that anyone could ever wish for.'
Adebowale and Adebolajo are recovering in separate hospitals under armed guard after being shot by armed police officers, who fired eight shots. The police shot to wound them rather than kill them in order that the two murderers can be brought to justice. They should probably expect to spend the rest of their lives in prison.
At least two other people are being questioned by police. One of them is Adebolajo's sister, Blessing Adebolajo, 32, who gave a bizarre grin as she was put into an unmarked police car outside her home in Romford, north east London. She was carrying a bag of clothes as she got into the vehicle at 8.10am.
It is understood she was not arrested, but police will undoubtedly want to question her about her brother who neighbours said was seen regularly at the house.
A woman purporting to be Adebolajo's sister told the Romford Recorder newspaper yesterday: 'We didn't know he was going to do this.'
The killing of an off-duty soldier in a brutal attack in broad daylight on a London street has shocked the nation, inspiring hundreds of strangers who had never met him to leave poignant tributes.
Many of the tributes came from veterans, fellow servicemen and women and their families. One moving notecard left at the scene said: 'To a brave young soldier, God bless, rest in peace, from an old soldier.'
William Pemberton, whose son Billy took his own life after being the youngest soldier to serve in Afghanistan, left his own poignant note describing the two fallen soldiers as 'brothers'.
Others were from members of the public who had no connection to Drummer Rigby but wanted to express their sadness at the attack and give sympathy to his family.
Flowers: A father and his young son take flowers to the spot outside the Woolwich barracks where Drummer Rigby was killed
A prayer service for Drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier killed by two assailants in south-east London on Wednesday, has taken place in Greater Manchester.
People at the service in Middleton, Manchester, lit candles in memory of Drummer Rigby
The prayer service saw people from the Langley estate gather in All Saints and Martyrs' Burnside Community Centre.
Jim Dobbin, the Labour Co-operative MP for Heywood and Middleton, said Drummer Rigby's death had "absolutely traumatised" people on the estate.
The Reverend Philip Miller, who led the service, said it had been a chance to "support the Rigby family".
"Obviously, it is incredibly hard for them but these lovely people need to know that they are supported [by the community]."
He said it was important for "everybody to respect the family's privacy".
People who attended the service, which included prayers and readings, lit candles in memory of Drummer Rigby.
Floral tributes have been left in the garden of the Rigby family's home on the estate, where the soldier grew up.
Read more and see more pictures: 'We loved you so much, you didn't deserve this': Devastated family of murdered soldier Lee Rigby pay emotional tribute to him | Mail Online
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Nah, just a few muzzies expressing themselves,, exercising their freedom of speech,,,is all !!
Karrie says they are all nice people, she has neighbors like this!!
I said I don't blame the moderates for wanting to stand up and distance themselves from these men.
You on the other hand, would like anyone brown shipped off before they finish sharpening their machetes. (see, I can make stupid leaps too).
Yeah but they are all moderates karrie!! I haven't seen any who aren't, have you?
I mean I know if you asked your Muslim neighbors to help you run a campaign against Muslim men marring nine yr old girls, they would help you and even make speeches to support you, the same would apply if you asked them to help you run a campaign against multiple wives, or honor killings in dishonored families etc etc. they are all moderates karrie,,, you just can't happen to find many ...eh!!
No karrie, there are no extremists in western countries. These are just muzzies expressing themselves in their new western countries! It is their right,,you know!!
Give them a break ..eh!! They have not experienced this type of freedom before!!
And if they happen to kill a few westerners along the way,,,well that's just an,,,Oppps !!! They did this in their old country so don't be so hard on them now, transitioning to a new country is not easy,,,,,you know!!
And c'mon, if they want four wives,,, so what,,,no bid deal,,eh!!
Here's a response from one of the killer's teachers.
Exiled cleric who taught UK knifeman praises 'courage'
Exiled cleric who taught UK knifeman praises 'courage'
He's just another moderate!!
C'mon now, it's their culture, their religion, how can you be so hard on them??
Karrie has neighbors like this, so she would take offense if you judged them because of their culture!!
---quotes---
"If you breach the covenant of security with Muslims you are digging your grave," he said. "I cannot condemn what Michael did. I don't see it as a crime as far as Islam is concerned".
But in the eyes of Muslims around the world they don't see him the same way. The Muslims in this country, they are so happy, proud of him. They see him as a freedom fighter attacking a military target."
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C'mon now, it's their culture, their religion, how can you be so hard on them??
Karrie has neighbors like this, so she would take offense if you judged them because of their culture!!
---quotes---
"If you breach the covenant of security with Muslims you are digging your grave," he said. "I cannot condemn what Michael did. I don't see it as a crime as far as Islam is concerned".
But in the eyes of Muslims around the world they don't see him the same way. The Muslims in this country, they are so happy, proud of him. They see him as a freedom fighter attacking a military target."
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lol... neat quote t*******. Before your clip, his quote stated that British Muslims were against his actions.
Twist some more Durry, twist some more.
Oh my gawd autocensor... rim ming? Really?
Islam... iss not a lamb, but a wolf in need of eradication.
Fvck Petros and the rest of his Chamberlain ilk in their ludicrous allusions to nazis. You dummy Petros, Chamberlain sought to appease the nazis, but you would ridicule those who want to protect our core values and freedom from the fascist blight on humanity that is Islam? You're a hypocrite for even mentioning nazis. I hope you're practicing sticking your useful-idiot a.ss in the air. This world is heading for a showdown in the streets and you'd better think twice about which side you're on.
I'm all for a drone strike on this bakri assh0le and his bin laden namesake devil's spawn.
Yes colpy, quite fed up with islam.
I slam islam. decimate these fvckers back to the stone age - the dark age they choose to bring upon humanity.
Their intolerance has begotten mine. That's the science on human nature preordained by God. Ignore it at your peril.
This is war. No holds barred war. Fvck with us in our land and we'll be strappin' sh*t on, motherfukkas!
I swear, the minute I find out I have terminal cancer sh*t's gonna fly.
I don't give a rat's a.ss what any of you apologist clowns think.
obligatory disclaimer: of course I'm kidding, but it's how I feel at this moment, and it's where their bs will lead.
:?\
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He ran from Britain because he heard that the Brit gov was going to start trying imams like him for treason. It's a shame he caught wind of it before he was jailed. He'd have ended up in prison instead of breeding (literally, breeding) more hate.
Yes, I was going to quote this as well except the *wink* *wink*, *snicker* *snicker* does not come out very well in print!!
So I just quoted the part with the words..
Btw, are your neighbors going to help you with trying to convince Muslim men they should not marry nine yr old girls? Just wondering!!
Afghanistan: Marriage Practice Victimizes Young Girls, Society
I haven't met any Canadian Muslims who've tried to marry nine year old girls. That's the Canadian Christians it's an issue with.
