![\"Police](\"http:\/\/rt.com\/files\/news\/1f\/2b\/20\/00\/3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Woolwich attack in the UK has already been branded as the latest manifestation of global Islamist terrorism. However, it has also been suggested the attack was backlash for the UK\u2019s history of colonialism and intervention in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The UK government has branded the brutal attack on a soldier in
\nWoolwich, East London, as a \u201csickening and barbaric\u201d<\/i> act of
\nterrorism, although the terror allegation has not been officially
\nconfirmed. In video footage of the incident, the two assailants
\nyell \u201cGod is greatest\u201d<\/i> in Arabic as they attempt to
\ndecapitate their victim.<\/p>\n
When police arrived on the scene they reportedly opened fire and
\ninjured the two suspects, who subsequently spent the night under
\narrest in hospital. Speculation over the motivation behind the
\nunprecedented attack is rife in UK media, with the press drawing
\nparallels to a foiled 2007 plot to kidnap and decapitate a soldier
\nin Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Citing police sources, Reuters reported on Thursday morning that
\nofficers were examining possible links to Nigeria in the attack.
\nNigeria was a British colony for over a century before gaining
\nindependence in 1960. The UK now has a large Nigerian immigrant
\npopulation numbering 174,000, according to the Office for National
\nStatistics.<\/p>\n
Brian Becker from anti-war coalition ANSWER told RT that the
\nUK\u2019s neo-colonial approach to the Middle East, along with its NATO
\nand US alliance, was leading to an \u201cescalating cycle of
\nviolence.\u201d<\/i>
<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThe British colonial past and its current legacy of
\nintervention and war is undoubtedly a factor,\u201d<\/i> Becker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe British government joined George W. Bush in the invasion
\nof Iraq and supported the war in Afghanistan.\u201d<\/i> UK politician
\nGeorge Galloway also intimated that the attack could have been a
\nconsequence of British actions abroad, drawing a parallel with
\nSyria:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis sickening atrocity in London is exactly what we are
\npaying the same kind of people to do in Syria.\u201d<\/i> But Defense
\nConsultant Moeen Raoof told RT that the nature of the attack was
\n\u201cbizarre,\u201d<\/i> and did not bear the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this were an Al-Qaeda act they would have attacked many
\nmore targets,\u201d<\/i> Raoof said, describing the attack as more
\n\u201copportunistic\u201d<\/i> than premeditated. Raoof added that UK
\nsoldiers were guilty of similar \u201cappalling acts of murder,\u201d<\/i>
\nand are \u201creturning to the UK without any
\nconsequences.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The UK government has stepped up security around the capital in
\nthe aftermath of the attack, and Prime Minister David Cameron has
\ncalled an emergency meeting with top politicians and security
\nofficials to discuss the atrocity.<\/p>\n
In 2008, the Guardian obtained a copy of an MI5 internal
\nresearch document on terror suspects that, based on numerous
\nstudies, concluded it was difficult to identify those who might be
\ninvolved in terrorism in the UK.<\/p>\n
The study\u2019s results \u201cchallenge many of the stereotypes that
\nare held about who becomes a terrorist and why,\u201d<\/i> the Guardian
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to the assessment, terror suspects are \u201ca diverse
\ncollection of individuals, fitting no single demographic profile,
\nnor do they all follow a typical pathway to violent extremism.\u201d<\/i>
\nThese include individuals from Pakistani, Middle Eastern and
\nCaucasian backgrounds.<\/p>\n
The research revealed that roughly half of terror suspects were
\nborn in the UK, and a majority of the other half is in the country
\nlegally. Most of those involved in terrorism were males, with the
\nmajority becoming radicalized in their early- to mid-20s. A large
\nnumber of those involved in terrorism did not practice Islam on
\nregular basis. Cases have also revealed supects being involved in
\ndrug and alcohol consumption, and soliciting prostitutes.<\/p>\n
MI5 added that there is evidence that a well-established
\nreligious identity makes individuals less inclined towards violent
\nextremism.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of UK men continue to travel abroad to places like
\nSyria and Somalia to join anti-government and terrorist-linked
\norganizations. Britons are allegedly involved with the Al-Nusra
\nFront in Syria, as well as Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab in
\nSomalia.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n