LONDON — Two suspected Islamist terrorists have been shot after a soldier was allegedly beheaded in south east London, just 200 yards from an army barracks.

The victim – who was wearing a Help For Heroes t-shirt – was said to have been attacked by two men armed with knives, including a meat cleaver.

One of the alleged killers said after the incident: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you", witnesses said.

Eyewitnesses said the killers were “hacking” at the victim “like a piece of meat”, according to The Sun newspaper.

The men reportedly waited for 20 minutes until police arrived and were shot while trying to attack the officers. Passersby bravely tended to the victim while the attackers paced back and forth. British news reports said the attack occurred after a car accident.



Meanwhile, chilling footage has emerged of a man with bloodied hands and carrying knives speaking into a camera, reportedly moments after the attack.

"We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you...Your people will never be safe," the man says.

“In our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe.

"Remove your governments they don't care about you.

"You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns you think politicians are going to die? No it's going to be the average guy, like you, and your children.

"So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so can all live in peace.”

ZUMAPRESS.com
Witnesses stand near the body of a man attacked near the Woolwich barracks
British Prime Minister David Cameron said there are "strong indications" the attack is terror-related.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris with French President Francois Hollande, Cameron called the attack "the most appalling crime" and said there are "strong indications" that it is a terrorist incident.

Hollande says a British soldier was killed in the attack, but Cameron didn't immediately confirm that.

Cameron said he would be cutting his trip short to return to London.



A Buckingham Palace spokesman told the Daily Mail: "The Queen is of course concerned by the report of an attack in Woolwich earlier today. Her Majesty is being kept informed."

SkyNews reported that the killing was likely to be a politically-motivated Islamist terrorist attack.

Sources told the network that following the attack, witnesses heard the pair chanting "Allahu akbar" — and asking passers-by to take photographs of them.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said it was urgently investigating reports that a serving soldier was involved in the incident.

Commander Simon Letchford said a number of weapons — including possibly a firearm — were used in the attack.

ITV
Man with bloodied hands talks to ITV cameraman at the scene
He confirmed that one man was found dead at the scene and that two men were shot by police and taken to separate London hospitals. One of them is in serious condition, according to London Ambulance Service.

Live television images of the scene showed a trail of blood staining a pavement, cordoned off streets and crime scene investigators marking the scene.

David Dixon, head teacher of a nearby primary school, said police told him there was a serious incident. He said he saw body lying in the road outside.

He told the BBC that he then made sure children were inside and put the school into lockdown mode. He said he then heard shots fired.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is called in when officers are involved in shootings, confirmed that it is investigating the incident, which took place near the Royal Artillery Barracks.

The barracks — which house a number of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and independent companies of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards — were the site of shooting events during the 2012 London Olympics.