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| Woolwich attack will only make us stronger, says Cameron | Woolwich attack will only make us stronger, says Cameron |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron has issued a defiant message after the murder of a British soldier in London, vowing to bring those responsible to justice and insisting such attacks on "the British way of life" serve only to unite people. | David Cameron has issued a defiant message after the murder of a British soldier in London, vowing to bring those responsible to justice and insisting such attacks on "the British way of life" serve only to unite people. |
| "What happened in Woolwich yesterday has sickened us all," the prime minister said on Thursday. "The people who did this were trying to divide us. They should know something like this will only bring us together, make us stronger." | "What happened in Woolwich yesterday has sickened us all," the prime minister said on Thursday. "The people who did this were trying to divide us. They should know something like this will only bring us together, make us stronger." |
| Speaking outside Downing Street after a meeting of the government's Cobra crisis committee, Cameron described the attack as a betrayal of Islam, adding that it was "solely and purely" the responsibility of the individuals involved. | Speaking outside Downing Street after a meeting of the government's Cobra crisis committee, Cameron described the attack as a betrayal of Islam, adding that it was "solely and purely" the responsibility of the individuals involved. |
| "This view is shared by every community in our country," he said. "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. | "This view is shared by every community in our country," he said. "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." | "There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act." |
| He praised the police and security services for their work but also paid tribute to the bravery of Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the cub pack leader who spoke to the two suspects and told them they would not win their fight. | He praised the police and security services for their work but also paid tribute to the bravery of Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the cub pack leader who spoke to the two suspects and told them they would not win their fight. |
| "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,'" said Cameron. "She spoke for us all." | "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,'" said Cameron. "She spoke for us all." |
| He urged people not to let such acts intimidate them or stop them going about their daily business. | He urged people not to let such acts intimidate them or stop them going about their daily business. |
| "One of the best ways of defeating terrorism is to go about our normal lives." | "One of the best ways of defeating terrorism is to go about our normal lives." |
| The prime minister's statement came as police prepared to question the two suspects, who remain under armed guard in hospital after being shot by police, and searched properties in London, Essex and Lincolnshire. | The prime minister's statement came as police prepared to question the two suspects, who remain under armed guard in hospital after being shot by police, and searched properties in London, Essex and Lincolnshire. |
| Based on its own reporting, the Guardian can report that the name of one of the suspects is Michael Olumide Adebolajo. It is understood that he is a British-born Nigerian, and the other suspect was born in Nigeria and is a naturalised British citizen. They are not thought to be related. | |
| The Guardian understands that both men have featured in counter-terrorism investigations over the last eight years. | |
| But it is understood that, while they were known to the police and security services, they were considered peripheral figures among the many extremists whose activities cross the radar of investigators. | |
| Adebolajo was frequently seen in Woolwich handing out Islamist literature in the High Street. | |
| It is also understood that one of the two suspects is known to have expressed an interest in travelling to Somalia to support the al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab, but whether he was actually arrested, and if so, when, is unclear. | It is also understood that one of the two suspects is known to have expressed an interest in travelling to Somalia to support the al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab, but whether he was actually arrested, and if so, when, is unclear. |
| Police and the intelligence services are looking into possible links between the two men and the outlawed group al-Muhajiroun, which was originally formed by the extremist preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed. That would be an obvious line of inquiry and may not necessarily indicate their involvement with the group. | Police and the intelligence services are looking into possible links between the two men and the outlawed group al-Muhajiroun, which was originally formed by the extremist preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed. That would be an obvious line of inquiry and may not necessarily indicate their involvement with the group. |
| Scotland Yard was also facing questions about why, according to several witnesses, an armed response team took 20 minutes to arrive at the scene. | Scotland Yard was also facing questions about why, according to several witnesses, an armed response team took 20 minutes to arrive at the scene. |
| While members of the public confronted the suspects as they wielded their blood-stained knives, unarmed police officers waited behind the cordon for the armed response. | While members of the public confronted the suspects as they wielded their blood-stained knives, unarmed police officers waited behind the cordon for the armed response. |
| However, Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne said officers reached Artillery Place within nine minutes of the first 999 call telling them a man was being attacked. It took 10 minutes for firearms officers to reach the scene after they were alerted to the presence of a gun. | However, Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne said officers reached Artillery Place within nine minutes of the first 999 call telling them a man was being attacked. It took 10 minutes for firearms officers to reach the scene after they were alerted to the presence of a gun. |
| "I would like to address some of the speculation as to how long it took the Met to respond yesterday as this incident started to unfold," he said. | "I would like to address some of the speculation as to how long it took the Met to respond yesterday as this incident started to unfold," he said. |
| "We first received a 999 call from the public at 2.20pm stating a man was being attacked, further 999 calls stated that the attackers were in possession of a gun. We had officers at the scene within nine minutes of receiving that first 999 call. | "We first received a 999 call from the public at 2.20pm stating a man was being attacked, further 999 calls stated that the attackers were in possession of a gun. We had officers at the scene within nine minutes of receiving that first 999 call. |
| "Once that information about a gun or guns being present was known, firearms officers were assigned at 2.24pm. Firearms officers were there and dealing with the incident 10 minutes after they were assigned, 14 minutes after the first call to the Met." | "Once that information about a gun or guns being present was known, firearms officers were assigned at 2.24pm. Firearms officers were there and dealing with the incident 10 minutes after they were assigned, 14 minutes after the first call to the Met." |
| Counter-terrorism officers were leading the murder inquiry and a property in Essex – believed to be the home of a relative of one suspect – was sealed off on Thursday. Around half a dozen uniformed officers blocked the stairwell outside the second-floor flat inside a small, 1940s-built block in Harold Wood, near Romford, and asked anyone approaching not to enter the building. | Counter-terrorism officers were leading the murder inquiry and a property in Essex – believed to be the home of a relative of one suspect – was sealed off on Thursday. Around half a dozen uniformed officers blocked the stairwell outside the second-floor flat inside a small, 1940s-built block in Harold Wood, near Romford, and asked anyone approaching not to enter the building. |
| Neighbours in the suburban street said they knew nothing of the sister, or of reports that the suspected attacker may have stayed at the flat sometimes. | Neighbours in the suburban street said they knew nothing of the sister, or of reports that the suspected attacker may have stayed at the flat sometimes. |
| A house where one of the suspect's family lives in Lincolnshire was being searched this morning by police. They would not confirm the address of the house but it is understood to be in Saxilby. | A house where one of the suspect's family lives in Lincolnshire was being searched this morning by police. They would not confirm the address of the house but it is understood to be in Saxilby. |
| Security remained tight on Thursday at the army barracks near the scene of the killing. Although troops in London were advised in the immediate aftermath of the attack not to wear their uniforms outside their bases, the Cobra meeting agreed that issuing orders against wearing military uniforms in public would not be the right response. | Security remained tight on Thursday at the army barracks near the scene of the killing. Although troops in London were advised in the immediate aftermath of the attack not to wear their uniforms outside their bases, the Cobra meeting agreed that issuing orders against wearing military uniforms in public would not be the right response. |
| The Ministry of Defence said: "As a result of the incident in Woolwich, a number of additional security measures have been put in place. As you would expect, we would not talk about the details of these measures." | The Ministry of Defence said: "As a result of the incident in Woolwich, a number of additional security measures have been put in place. As you would expect, we would not talk about the details of these measures." |
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