MI5 admit they KNEW about fanatics who 'slaughtered soldier': Police raid house in Lincolnshire village as friends say British-born suspect became 'obsessed with radical Islam as schoolboy'

Suspect identified on internet forums as Michael Adebolajo



He was filmed ranting with bloodied hands shortly after the attack



Accomplice believed to be from Harold Hill, Romford

IPCC confirms two officers fired shots and one officer discharged a Taser



Raids carried out in Lincolnshire, Romford, Greenwich and Woolwich



Suspects in attack on a soldier are not believed to be part of a terror group

Both have been arrested and are being treated in separate hospitals after being shot by police

David Cameron: 'We will defeat violent extremism by standing together'

Radical preacher Anjem Choudhary knew one of killers and has warned of more 'lone wolf' attacks in the future

Sources: 'Adebolajo was arrested on his way to join Al Shabaab in Somalia'

Two men who allegedly slaughtered a soldier in a Woolwich street were known to security services, it emerged today.

David Cameron revealed that authorities were looking into what was already known about Drummer Lee Rigby's alleged killers, but it is not thought they were considered to be an immediate threat.



One of the men, believed to be Michael Adebolajo, is believed to have been arrested after he went to Somalia to join banned Islamist group al Ahabaab.

Eyewitness Jamie France, 29, said that his mother had seen Adebolajo preaching as recently as last week.

He said: 'She said she'd seen him last week preaching in Woolwich town centre. She said she remembers him because he'd been really angry and was saying all this political stuff.'

In an extraordinary day of events, Scotland Yard announced that another 1,200 police officers were being put onto the streets and several houses were raided as part of the investigation.



Changed man: Suspect Michael Adebolajo is said to have been radicalised in 2003 as a schoolboy and his parents became so concerned they moved him away

The man on the left is believed to be Michael Adebolajo. Both of the killers are thought to be British citizens and one of them is of Nigerian descent

Police today raided a Lincolnshire house which is believed to be connected with Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo Adebolajo is said to have joined the banned Islamist organisation Al Muhajiroun, which promotes Sharia law, and other controversial groups banned under the Terrorism Act. Insiders said he disappeared two years ago. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Pictured: Soldier slaughtered in the street by Muslim... 'You and your children will be next': Islamic fanatics... Revealed: Woolwich killers are British-born and of Nigerian... 'The first guy goes for her with a machete... she took him...

Shocking video taken by eyewitnesses to slaughter of soldier... 'I wasn't scared. Better me than a child': Incredible... Share this article Share He is said to have been well-known on the Islamic extremist scene in Britain and may have been stopped or arrested on his way to join the militant Islamist group Al Shabaab in Somalia in the past year. AN EXTREMIST WHO WAS RAISED AS A CHRISTIAN

Michael Adebolajo, 28, was born in Lambeth, south London, in 1985 to a Christian family of Nigerian descent. At the age of 15 or 16 he started getting involved in Islam and started to speak about Jihadi ideas.

He joined several extremist groups - including Al Muhajiroun - that were banned in Britain and in 2003 converted to Islam, calling himself Mujaheed while at Marshalls Park School.

Fearing he had become radicalised, his parents moved him away from Romford to a village in Lincolnshire. He then went to university in Greenwich, living in Eltham while he was a student.

A former friend told the Evening Standard that he was a Christian. The friend said: 'He started getting involved with Islam aged about 15 or 16, and that is why his parents moved him away out of the area. It is utterly shocking to see what he has done. It’s unbelievable.' The security services, including MI5, were aware of him and his accomplice, who has not been named but is believed to be from Harold Hill, close to Romford. However, the two suspects are not thought to have links to terror groups based in Nigeria, such as the jihadist militant organisation Boko Haram. Mr Cameron today said: 'We will defeat violent extremism by standing together, by backing our police and security services and above all by challenging the poisonous narrative of extremism on which this violence feeds. ‘As is the normal practice in these sorts of cases, the Independent Police Complaints Commission will be able to review the actions of the police, and the Intelligence and Security Committee will be able to do the same for the wider agencies,’ he said. 'But nothing should be done to get in the way of their absolutely vital work.' Speaking about the courageous actions of Ingrid Loyau-Kennett who spoke to the killers after the attack he added: 'When told by the attacker he wanted to start a war in London she replied "you are going to lose. It’s only you versus many." She speaks for us all.' Scotland Yard said an extra 1,200 officers were deployed on the streets of London as Mr Cameron revealed that authorities were looking into what what the security services knew about the killers and whether the attack could have been prevented. Newsnight correspondent Richard Watson said: ' I received a very interesting phone call from a source who knows the British jihadi scene very well and [he] said that one of the attackers was Nigerian in origin, has been living in the UK for many years, [and] was radicalised by the Islamist group Al Muhajiroun [a banned extremist group] in 2003.

'He suggested to me that just last year this young man was stopped or arrested ... on his way to join Al Shabaab in Somalia.' Little is known about Adebolajo's accomplice, but he is believed to be from Harold Hill, Romford.

The two men were shot by two armed police officers while one of them was shot with a Taser. Both were today under arrest as they were treated in separate London hospitals. A loving father with a bubbly character

The victim of the terrorist murder in Woolwich was named today as father-of-one Lee Rigby. Drummer Rigby, 25, from Crumpsall, Manchester was from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, attached to the Regimental Recruiting Team in London. Sergeant Barry Ward said he was 'a loving father' to his two-year-old son Jack, and had 'a very bubbly character'. A shocked and tearful neighbour outside the family home, a council house on the Langley estate in Middleton, Greater Manchester said: 'He had always wanted to be in the army since he was knee high.' Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was today named as the victim

The woman, who did not want to be named, added: 'He was a lovely lad, he lived around here for years and went to Middleton Tech.' A steady stream of relatives and friends visited the house throughout the day to support the family. Police and PCSOs also stood guard outside the house and patrolled the street. Drummer Rigby, who joined the Army in 2006, had served in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where he was a member of the Fire Support Group in Patrol Base Woqab. A life-long Manchester United fan, he had also stood outside the Royal Palaces as part of his battalion’s public duties commitment. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor, Commanding Officer Second Fusiliers, said Drummer Rigby was a 'real character'. He said: 'Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums. 'An experienced and talented side drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus. 'His ability, talent and personality made him a natural choice to work in the recruiting group. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Second Fusiliers.'

The curtains at the house in Lincolnshire remained closed following last week's raid Neighbours said the same family had lived in the house for about a decade A block of flats in Harold Hill, Essex, where police and forensics staff searched a top floor home Michael Adebolajo grew up in this house in Romford, Essex, until he was around 15 when he is believed to have converted to Islam Police stand outside a ground floor flat on Old Woolwich Road today in one of a series of raids across London The raids, including one in Greenwich, came on a day of extraordinary developments

Government sources confirmed that the names of both suspects were on a list maintained by the security services, but stressed it was unclear what level of surveillance they were under. Michael Adebolajo, 28, and his unnamed accomplice are believed to have knocked off duty Drummer Rigby down with a Vauxhall Tigra as he walked back to the Woolwich Barracks at 2.20pm yesterday, crushing his body against a road sign. The Union Flag flies at half mast over Wellington Barracks today as a tribute to the slaughtered soldier Witnesses said the terror suspects then 'hacked and chopped' at his body like 'crazed animals', before dragging his corpse into the middle of the road leaving a trail of blood. As they apparently tried to decapitate him they were chanting 'Allah Akbar!’ – an Islamic phrase meaning ‘God is great’ - and yelling 'this is what God would have wanted'. A blood-soaked man identified as Adebolajo, who was still holding a number of weapons in his red-stained hands, then ranted on camera in a clear London accent saying: 'You people will never be safe' before telling a passer-by they had not fled because they were waiting to 'shoot the police'. Within 20 minutes armed officers arrived and the fundamentalists charged at them wielding firearms, knives and a machete. Police opened fire, shooting six bullets, leaving one seriously injured. The pair remain under armed guard in two separate London hospitals. Police today defended their response to the killing after eyewitnesses claimed they took up to 20 minutes to arrive at the scene. Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne, said: 'One point I would like to address is around some of the speculation as to how long it took the Met to respond yesterday as this incident started to unfold. '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.' Police were today seen outside a £365,000 detached house in a Lincolnshire village where they raided a home where Adebolajo is listed as having lived in the past. The Lincolnshire property being searched by police is believed to belong to Adebolajo’s Nigerian-born father, Anthony Olumfemi Adebolajo. But according to the Land Registry, the owner of the house is Joshua Anthony Olufemi Daniels, who bought it in 2002 for £218,000. Neighbours said they knew the owner as Tony, an NHS nurse or nursing manager. It is thought the suspected killer’s father may have adopted the surname Daniels, although it is unclear why.

Police officers form a line between members of the public and officials in Woolwich this afternoon Young men reacted with anger as they heckled Boris Johnson when he appeared in Woolwich today A woman approaches the police line to offer flowers near Wellington Barracks David Cameron this afternoon met with military officials as he visited an army barracks in Woolwich near the scene of the killing Mr Adebolajo, 56, is believed to be a trained nurse now working in a managerial capacity within the NHS. Shortly before midday police extended the cordon to take in the entire road and a handful of surrounding roads and cul-de-sacs. No visible evidence of searching at the house could be seen, with the curtains remaining drawn and no movement in or out of the house.

Later in the morning, plain clothes officers, thought to be from the Metropolitan Police, arrived at the modern estate and the house and driveway was sealed off with police tape. An officer at the scene described the property as a 'crime scene'. Mr Adebolajo bought the property in 2002. At one time a woman who wore a burka was thought to live with him. Mr Cameron and Boris Johnson also met members of the local community during a visit to Woolwich today Boris Johnson this morning entered the security cordon at the scene in Woolwich They believed he had up to four grown up children, although few if any are thought to have stayed at the house for any period of time. Michael Adebolajo was listed as being a resident there in 2004, shortly after the family moved in. One nearby resident said: 'I know his family have ties to London, but whoever is at this house is very secretive. The curtains are always drawn at the front and the back, I've never seen anybody in the garden, either.' 'THERE IS A CHANCE OF MORE LONE WOLF ATTACKS': CHILLING WARNING FROM A PREACHER

Anjem Choudary, who led Islamist group Al Muhajiroun - the banned forerunner to Islam4UK where Adebolajo often appeared with other radical protesters - said he recognised him from TV footage at the scene. Choudary said: 'I went to the same primary school as him in Woolwich, Mulgrave, and grew up in the same area and he came to the local mosque - it was a peaceful community with lots of Muslim people from Somalia and Pakistan. 'I didn't know him that well so I can't say where his family was from. 'He converted around 2003 to Islam, before I met him and I knew him as his convert name 'Mujaheed' [meaning one who engages in jihad] when he used to attend our demonstrations and lectures. 'I last saw him in 2011, he was a very nice man with impeccable character and nothing unusual about him. He added: 'What he did was unusual and it's not the kind of view that I propagate and I do not condone the use of violence, but those views are out there.

'Some members of the Muslim community struggle to express themselves and he is making his voice heard in blood.' Choudary suggested that it was possible the attack was motivated by British government foreign policy in the Muslim world, and that this may not have been an isolated incident. He said: 'We are a very politicised community. Some people are angered by draconian measures such as 'stop and search' and restrictions on free speech. 'There is a chance of more lone wolf attacks happening again due to these draconian measures. 'If you want to condemn anyone it's the British government, this is one death but if you add up the number of people killed and tortured by the British government it is in the millions.' Neighbours said the house has been home to the same family for about a decade and the blinds at the house were today closed. A spokesman said: 'Lincolnshire Police can confirm that the Metropolitan Police executed a search warrant under PACE at an address in Lincolnshire. 'This is in connection with the ongoing investigation into the murder of a man in Woolwich. The Metropolitan Police are not prepared to discuss the matter further at this stage.' A second search in the early hours of this morning concentrated on a house believed to belong to a woman related to Adebolajo in Romford, Essex.

Detectives and forensic officers were examining the top floor flat belonging to Blessing Daniels. They were seen taking plastic boxes into the block. Other officers sat in a white transit van outside the estate. At 5.30am there was also a raid on a property in Greenwich, where witnesses said four people - two sisters in their 30s, an older woman and a teenage boy - were all taken away in a Scotland Yard van. This afternoon two police vans were stationed outside the ground-floor flat on Eastney Street, with about a dozen officers stationed outside.

The front door of the flat had been shattered.

One neighbour said four people had been led away from the flat at 6am, and that two children, aged three and seven, were also taken away.

It is understood the men, who are being treated in separate hospitals while under arrest, are most likely to be British citizens of Nigerian descent who have converted to a radical form of Islam. A controversial preacher who claims to know Abedolajo from their time at Mulgrave Primary School today described him as 'a nice man with impeccable character'. Anjem Choudary, who led Islamist group Al Muhajiroun - the banned forerunner to Islam4UK wher Adebolajo often appeared with other radical protesters - said he recognised him from TV footage at the scene. Choudary said: ‘I went to the same primary school as him in Woolwich, Mulgrave, and grew up in the same area and he came to the local mosque - it was a peaceful community with lots of Muslim people from Somalia and Pakistan. I didn’t know him that well so I can’t say where his family was from. Message: David Cameron spoke outside Number 10 today and pledged that terrorists who try to divide Britons only bring the country closer together ’ He converted around 2003 to Islam, before I met him and I knew him as his convert name ‘Mujaheed’ when he used to attend our demonstrations and lectures. I last saw him in 2011, he was a very nice man with impeccable character and nothing unusual about him.

He added: ‘What he did was unusual and it’s not the kind of view that I propagate and I do not condone the use of violence, but those views are out there. Some members of the Muslim community struggle to express themselves and he is making his voice heard in blood.’ A woman lays flowers outside the Royal Military Barracks where it is believed the soldier was stationed Choudary suggested that it was possible the attack was motivated by British government foreign policy in the Muslim world, and that this may not have been an isolated incident. He said: ‘We are a very politicised community. Some people are angered by draconian measures such as ‘stop and search’ and restrictions on free speech. ‘There is a chance of more lone wolf attacks happening again due to these draconian measures. ‘If you want to condemn anyone it’s the British government, this is one death but if you add up the number of people killed and tortured by the British government it is in the millions.’ This morning a group of military wives - some pushing prams, laid flowers at the main gates of the barracks to pay their respects to the dead soldier. One of the women, in her 20s, who did not want to be named, said: 'We are a group of military wives. 'We live just outside the base. We are all just very numb at the moment - shaken up and very shocked. It could have been any one of our husbands. 'He was a young guy who cared very much about his job, like they all do. I think he was in training. The atmopshere is very quiet. No one really wants to talk. No one knows what to say. 'We are very sad and feeling quite raw at the moment. A lot of our husbands left the country this morning to go to Kenya. I don't believe he was due to leave. More flowers have been arriving near the scene of the death, including a poppy wreath Strangers today continue to lay floral tributes at the scene of the killing and outside the barracks One person left a Help for Heroes t-shirt in recognition of the top the soldier was wearing at the time of his death Police officers stand next to floral tributes at the scene of the death 'He was an attachment to our battalion I think. He was in training to start off his life as a soldier. It could have been any person on the street but for it to be someone serving, we all feel targeted. It's not nice.' After the killing, the man believed to be Adebolajo is alleged to have declared: 'you and your kids will be next'. In a chilling rant captured on camera, the knife-wielding man declared: 'The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers. He added, in the video obtained by ITV News: 'Remove your governments - they don't care about you. You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start bursting 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 we can ... so you can all live in peace.’ Investigators have taken evidence from the scene including knives and a gun Blade: A police officer carries a knife in an evidence bag from the scene of the brutal attack in 200 yards from Woolwich Barracks

Scene: The victim lies on the floor (circled left) while the man believed to be Michael Adebolajo is treated by a police officer (circled right) Adebolajo's accomplice was seen talking to 48-year-old Ingrid Loyau-Kennett as she calmed the men down to keep the peace

'AN EYE FOR AN EYE': FULL RANT OF MAN WITH BLOOD ON HIS HANDS The man with blood on his hands said 'you people will never be safe' as he launched an incredible rant. In the video footage, obtained by ITV News, he said: ‘We swear by the almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone. 'We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. 'I apologise that women have had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don't care about you.' 'Do you think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start bussin' 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 you can all live in peace.'

The attacker, speaking in a clear south London accent, declared in the rant: ‘You people will never be safe. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’

Throughout the frenzied attack the two killers shouted ‘Allah Akbar’ – Arabic for ‘God is great’ – then demanded horrified witnesses film them as they ranted over the crumpled body.

The two attackers in their 20s, waited calmly for armed police to arrive before charging at officers brandishing a rusty revolver, knives and meat cleavers.



When the old pistol was shot towards police it backfired and blew the thumb off one of the men.

Moments later they were cut down in a hail of bullets believed to be fired by a woman marksman. Last night both men were being treated in hospital for their wounds.



Before police arrived the man identified as Adebolajo, said: ‘We swear by Almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reasons we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day.



Last night the crime scene remained swarming with police and forensic teams who illuminated the road with spotlights as they examined evidence under large tents.

As they worked, more than 100 members of far-right group the English Defence League gathered around the scene, with many draped in St George’s flags and wearing black balaclavas.

Riot police holding shields formed a cordon around the area as the EDL members waved flags and chanted 'no surrender to the Muslim scum', ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘England’.

Leader Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd, saying: 'We have got weak leadership. They have allowed this to happen. People are scared to say the word Muslim. They are scared to offend them.

‘You know what? We are offended. People in this country are angry. They have had enough.’

They marched threw bottles at police before being dispersed by officers by 11pm.

A number of EDL supporters then headed to the local Queen’s Arms pub where they sang nationalistic songs.

Onlookers said a brick was thrown through a mosque window during the march.

A man, who gave his name only as Abdul, said: 'I'm not happy about it. It's a place of worship - a place of God. They have got Islam all wrong. The people who did this are nothing to do with the real Islam.'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said he was not aware of any arrests at the protest.

Elsewhere, two men were arrested in separate alleged ‘revenge attacks’ on mosques following yesterday’s killing.

A 43-year-old man who reportedly walked into a mosque in Braintree, Essex, with a knife and an ‘incendiary device’ was arrested at 7.15pm on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and attempted arson.

The secretary of the mosque in Braintree, Sikander Saleemy, told Channel 4 News: 'The police said it's too early to try and link it to what happened in Woolwich, but those of us who were here feel that it was some sort of revenge attack. It was clear from the man's behaviour. We absolutely condemn what happened in Woolwich, but it had nothing to do with us.

'It was an appalling act of terror - but it wasn't "Islamic" in any way. I wish it wasn't described like that, because sadly people will now start to blame Muslims.'

And police in Kent arrested a man on suspicion of racially-aggravated criminal damage at a mosque in Gillingham at 8.40pm.

Security chiefs and politicians met this morning to discuss their response to the attack.

Arriving for a meeting of the Government’s Cobra crisis committee, mayor of London Boris Johnson said it was wrong to link the murder with British foreign policy or the actions of Britain’s armed forces overseas.

Mr Johnson said: 'The fault lies wholly and exclusively in the warped and deluded mindset of the people who did it.'

The mayor also urged Londoners to 'go about their lives in the normal way'.

Police carry out a fingertip search as it was revealed that both men were known to MI5

Forensics teams were pictured this morning scouring the area around the scene of the killing As investigations continued and police worked at the scene Cobra met to discuss the attack

Others attending the meeting included Sir John Sawers, head of security service MI6. Security was tight this morning at the army barracks near the scene of yesterday’s killing.

Troops in London were advised in the immediate aftermath of the attack not to wear their uniforms outside their bases.

But at the Cobra meeting this morning it was agreed that issuing orders against wearing military uniforms in public would not be the right response to the outrage.

A No 10 source said last night’s advice was an 'understandable reaction' while the circumstances of the attack were still unclear, but Mr Cameron and others at the meeting agreed that 'the best way to defeat terrorists was to continue with normal life'.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'In light of yesterday’s events and the emerging situation, the military chain of command introduced a package of immediate reactive security measures on a precautionary basis.

'Following a review of the situation this morning, a decision has been taken to relax some of these temporary measures imposed yesterday, including advice to members of the armed forces in London not to wear uniform outside of defence establishments.

Theresa May and Boris Johnson pictured following a meeting of Cobra to discuss their response to the attack



'The best way we can defeat terrorism is to carry on as normal, and that includes our personnel wearing their uniform.'

David Cameron was briefed by Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe on the murder investigation before chairing the meeting of Cobra at 10 Downing Street.

In a message on Twitter, Mr Cameron described the killing as 'sickening'.

Meanwhile, a woman who risked her life to confront one of the killers who murdered the soldier in front of horrified passers by described how she tried to calm him moments after the attack.

Ms Loyau-Kennett, 48, was on a bus heading through Woolwich when she spotted the stricken soldier lying bloodied in the road.

Her bravery - and that of others who tried to reason with the killers - has been praised, particularly in the wake of amateur footage from the scene, which shows one of the killers making political statements about the slaughter while still brandishing weapons.

Cub leader Ms Loyau-Kennett, of Helston in Cornwall, told ITV Daybreak she initially thought Drummer Rigby had been injured in a car crash.

There were tense scenes last night as members of far-right group EDL converged on Woolwich

Police formed a cordon around the area as members of the group waved flags and chanted 'no surrender to the Muslim scum'

The EDL marched threw bottles at police before being dispersed by officers by 11pm

She said: 'I went to the guy and when I approached the body there was a lady cradling him. And then (one of the killers), the most excited one of the two, said ‘Don’t go too close to the body’. 'I thought, OK. And because I was down I could see a butcher’s knife and an axe - that’s what he had - and blood. I thought, what the heck? I thought obviously he was a bit excited and the thing was just to talk to him.' Ms Loyau-Kennett said she tried to reason with the killer to focus his attention away from other potential victims, as large crowds began to gather at the scene. She said: 'I know it’s big today but for me it was just a regular guy, just a bit upset. He was not on drugs, he was not drunk. 'He said ‘Don’t touch, I killed him’. I said ‘Why?’ He said ‘He’s a British soldier. He killed people. He killed Muslim people in Muslim countries’. 'And I said, OK. So what would you like? I tried to make him talk about how he felt. He said all the bombs dropping and blindly killing women, children... 'More and more people were starting to come. There were so many people around. I just looked around and I found it so daunting.'

Soldiers were initially told not to wear uniforms outside their barracks, but Cobra decided this would not be the right response to the attack

Ms Loyau-Kennett said her thoughts were to 'just carry on' talking to the man, while several women arriving at the scene tried to shield Drummer Rigby.

She said: 'I wanted him to concentrate on me and make sure he doesn’t have a funny idea.

'He (the killer) told me he was a British soldier - he didn’t look like a British soldier to me, he wasn’t in uniform. But I thought if another one passes by, or is in the area...'

Woolwich and Greenwich MP Nick Raynsford praised the 'extraordinary' bravery of members of the public who approached the killers.

The men are in separate London hospitals being treated for injuries after they were shot by police at the scene.

David Dixon, headteacher of Mulgrave Primary School, 100 yards from the killing, said: 'To have an incident of this nature take place so close to the school was obviously very shocking for pupils, staff and parents.

'At the time, no one knew the exact nature of the incident and whether there was the potential for further risk to children's safety.

'We therefore immediately put our contingency measures in place - making sure that all children were safe and helping them to stay calm, then making arrangements as soon as possible to contact parents and ensure children could safely be taken home.

'Today our priority has been to focus on ensuring children have as calm and as normal a day as possible. Parents have been very supportive of the school in this, despite the obvious shock at having such an incident take place in their community.

'Staff have been talking informally with children this morning about what happened, since when we have sought to have as normal a school day as possible.

'Mulgrave has very close links with the local community in Woolwich, which is diverse and harmonious, and we are determined to support local residents and community groups to remain united and calm in the days and weeks ahead.'

Chair of governors Ian Taylor said: 'Mulgrave is a successful and harmonious school and the school's strong and supportive ethos has clearly helped in our response to what's happened.

'It's clear from the comments of parents that our staff were exemplary in their response to the incident, and I would like to pay tribute to their calmness and professionalism.'