The origin of the terror suspects were known to security services, and that the two men accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London was revenge for wars in Muslim countries. They are believed to be British of Nigerian descent, a source said, according to Reuters. One of the two suspects is British-born Michael Adelboalajo. Police raided homes of relatives, near the town, and both men reportedly converted to Islam from Christianity, British media said.
Security experts have highlighted the risk to Western cities of "lone wolf" attacks, akin to last month's Boston Marathon bombing. These attacks involve Islamists who are radicalized over the Internet. Prime Minister David Cameron's declaration that the attack is considered terrorism, it represents the first deadly strike by Islamists in mainland London since the 7/7 bus bombing in 2005.
"We will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms," Cameron said. "This was not just an act 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."
Since the suspects were known to intelligence services, there would be a review as to how the gathering was handled.
"Apart from being horribly barbaric , this was relatively straightforward to carry out," the source said. "This was quite low-tech and that is frankly pretty challenging."
An Islamist cleric in London Anjem Choudary told Reuters that Adebolajo "used to attend a few demonstration and activities... when I knew him he was a very pleasant mant. He was peaceful, unassuming, and I don't think there's any reason to think he would do anything violent."
The two Islamist used a car to run down a young soldier near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London, attempting to behead him with a meat cleaver and knives. After the attack, they told bystanders the action was revenge for British wars in Muslim countries. While stabbing the soldier relentlessly, witnesses said they should "Allahu akbar," repeatedly.
"We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reason we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day," Adebolajo said with blood-soaked hands on a video filmed by a passerby, . "This British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
British media also quoted local people saying Adebolajo attended a nearby university at Greenwich, and grew up locally.
One local woman, Ingrid Loyau-Kennetta, tried to engage one of the Islamists, in an effort to calm him, and potentially stop them from more attacks.
"He had what looked like butcher's tools - a little axe, to cut the bones, and two large knives. He said: 'Move off the body,'" Ingrid Loyau-Kennett was quoted by local media as saying.
