The UK Ministry of Defense has announced that the victim killed in brutal attack in South London was 25-year-old Lee Rigby, a drummer in the 2nd Battalion and posted to The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
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attack
Rigby was described as an “extremely popular and witty
soldier” with a “larger than life personality who was also a
“loving father to his son Jack, aged 2 years.”
He joined the Army in 2006 and upon completion of his infantry
training course, was selected to be a member of the Corps of Drums
and posted to 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers — an
infantry regiment of the British Army.
Rigby
was first deployed on Operations to Helmand province, Afghanistan
in April 2009, where he served as a member of the Fire Support
Group in Patrol Base Woqab.
Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor MBE, Commanding Officer Second
Fusiliers, described Rigby as “an experienced and talented side
drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with
distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus.”
Rigby took up a recruiting post in London in 2011, where he also
assisted with duties at Regimental Headquarters in the Tower of
London.
Taylor said his “ability, talent and personality made him a
natural choice to work in the recruiting group.” On Wednesday
afternoon in Woolwich, South London, two men drove onto the
sidewalk and hit Rigby with their car before getting out and
hacking away at his body with knives and meat cleavers while
shouting
“Allahu Akbar!” The suspects, one of them identified as
British born 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo, spoke at length to
bystanders and made politically charged statements before the
Metropolitian Police’s armed response team finally arrived,
shooting them both.
Rigby died at the scene, while the attackers were detained and
are currently hospitalized under armed guard.
It was reported on Thursday that both of the alleged assailants
were part of earlier investigations carried out by MI5 — Britain’s
internal security service. However, intelligence services assessed
that neither suspect posed a threat to life.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the Intelligence and
Security Committee would carry out a full probe to determine
whether or not there were any failings in the run-up to the
attack.
This article originally appeared on: RT