The Angels Of Woolwich: How Three Extraordinarily Brave Women Confronted The Islamic Fanatics Who Butchered And Tried To Behead A Soldier On London Street - And Prayed Next To His Mutilated Body

• 'Religious' woman in her 50s 'walked straight up to suspects with no fear'

• Sat next to victim in middle of the road and put her hands on his chest

• Witness: 'She saw everything and wanted to comfort him. The poor man’s head was beside her'

• Second woman talks to one killer as he wandered around with bloodied weapons and hands

• Female Cub Scout leader tells other attacker: 'Right now, it is only you versus many people. You are going to lose'

• David Cameron praises her bravery, saying: 'She speaks for us all'

By Richard Hartley-parkinson and Simon Tomlinson

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of a soldier, the remarkable courage of three women stands out.

They selflessly confronted the two killers and went to the aid of the victim, praying for him and preventing further carnage.

The first heroine, described as a religious woman in her 50s, bravely approaches the attackers as they roam the streets covered in blood and demands they let her sit next to the dead man.

As she comforts him in the middle of the road, a second woman stands over her and appears to talk to one of the killers in an apparent attempt to placate him.

Meanwhile, a third lady, a Cub Scout leader, remonstrates with the other alleged murderer who rants at her: 'We want to start a war in London tonight'.

Standing firm, mother-of-two Ingrid Loyau-Kennett replies: 'Right now it is only you versus many people. You are going to lose'. 

Scroll down for video 

Do you know this woman? A brave passerby confronted the killers and demanded to be allowed to sit next to the dead soldier to pray for him

The Angel of Woolwich: A woman sits next to the dead soldier after the brutal killing while another looks on

No fear: The women selflessly went to the aid of their victim, praying for him and preventing further carnage

Facing them down: Two women confront one of the suspects (right) while cub scout leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett talks to the second alleged murderer (left)

In broad daylight: The attackers repeatedly stabbed and tried to behead the off-duty soldier


The Angels of Woolwich; Eyewitnesses' accounts of their bravery 

Describing the scene, a witness said he saw the first woman approach the men and ask to go to the soldier's side moments after the horrific attack in which they nearly behead the soldier.

Joe Tallant told the Daily Mirror: 'She is a very religious woman. She saw everything and wanted to comfort the man. She just walked straight up to them with no fear.

DO YOU KNOW THE ANGEL OF WOOLWICH?

 

If you know the woman who courageously went to pray for the soldier, please contact us by emailing: editorial@mailonline.co.uk

'She put her hands on his chest and I think she prayed for him. The poor man’s head was beside her.'

Footage from ITV News shows the woman sat on the road next to the soldier's body while another image shows her putting her hand on his back as she prays.

A second woman stands over her and appears to talk to one of the killers as he wanders around with bloodied weapons and hands.

Meanwhile, Ms Loyau-Kennett, 48, jumped off her bus when she saw the soldier's body lying in the south-east London street, checked his pulse and then tried to talk to the men who hacked him to death.

One told her: 'We want to start a war in London tonight'.

She replied: 'Right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose'.

Prime Minister David Cameron today praised her courageous actions, and said: 'She speaks for us all'. 

Message of hate: One of the alleged attackers rants at the camera while pointing at the soldier he is suspected of killing

Crazed: The two black men in their 20s then waited calmly for the police to arrive before charging at officers brandishing a rusty revolver, knives and meat cleavers

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, 48, jumped off her bus when she saw the dead man and then spoke to the killers in a bid to keep the situation calm

He added: '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.'

Mr Cameron refused to say if the suspected killers were known to police and security services but said it was something the Independent Police Complaints Commission and intelligence committees would look into.

'She put her hands on his chest and I think she prayed for him. The poor man’s head was beside her.'

Witness, Joe Talllant

After the attack, one of the alleged killers was filmed launching into a diatribe as he pledged the fight would go on.

Speaking in a clear south London accent, he said: 'You people will never be safe. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'

The two suspects apparently shouted 'Allahu Akbar', which means 'God is great' in Arabic as they hacked the soldier to death.

They waited calmly for the police to arrive before charging at officers brandishing a rusty revolver, knives and meat cleavers.

They were then shot by armed officers, and both suspects are under guard in separate hospitals today.

But it was a brave female Cub Scout leader who confronted the armed men.

In shock: Women lay flowers near the scene where a British soldier was killed in Woolwich

Grieving: Flowers lay outside Woolwich Barracks. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the 'appalling' attack appeared to be terror related

 

'I saw a man on the road, obviously injured and a car badly crashed I assumed it was a road accident, although the car was funny on the pavement, it was not coming on the road,' she told ITV's Daybreak.

'When I approached the body there was a lady cradling him and then the guy, the most excited one of the two said, don’t go too close to the body.

'I could see a butcher's knife and you know these axes butchers have to cut -that's what he had and blood all over him. I thought what the heck happened here?

'Okay I thought obviously he was a bit excited, so I thought the thing was just to talk to him.

Ms Loyau-Kennett said she was not trained in any way to deal with the situation - she used to be a teacher.

Devastated: A note left with floral tributes expresses regret that they 'couldn't stop them vile animals'

Remorse: A handwritten note is seen near the scene of the killing sending condolences to the dead soldier's family and comrades

 

POLICE HIT BACK AT CLAIMS THEY TOOK 20 MINS TO REACH SCENE

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.' 

'I know it’s big today, for me he was just a regular guy, just a bit upset. He was not on drugs, he was not drunk.’

She said the man told her 'Don't touch, I killed him.'

When she questioned him, he said 'He is a British soldier, he killed people, he killed Muslim people, in Muslim countries. ‘

Mrs Loyau-Kennett explained the man holding the knife told her it was for 'all the bomb droppings and killings, blindly, women.'

When asked if she feared for her life she replied: 'Better me than the children.

'There were mothers with children. It was important.'

Mrs Loyau-Kennett's son said her bravery was motivated by her 'incredible maternal instinct'.

The 48-year-old was in London celebrating her son Basil Baradaran's 23rd birthday when she came across the horrific scene.

Basil, an animation graduate who lives close to the murder scene with sister Pawony, 24, said: 'Mum came up to visit for my birthday and we'd had a lovely celebration.

'I was meeting her at the train station when she walked up and started telling me had happened.

'My first thought was for her safety but I could see she was completely intact. I couldn't believe what she was telling me.

'I don't know what was going through her mind or how she found the strength to do what she did but I'm totally awestruck. I'm about as proud as a son could be.'

Mrs Loyau-Kennett, who is half-French, brought up her two children alone after their father returned to France when they were very young.

She lives in Helston, Cornwall, works as a language teacher and translator, and has recently completed a further qualification with the Open University.

She previously lived in Ipswich and New Zealand, where she worked with cubs, scouts, beavers and brownies.

How it unfolded: A map showing the chain of events after the attack at 2.20pm on Wednesday 

Basil said: 'She's caring, loyal and very, very protective. I think her incredible maternal instinct must have kicked in when she saw that defenceless man lying there.

'She could have walked away or stayed on that bus but she was determined to help.

'She's always been a single mum and I never had a dad. No doubt it was an incredible struggle bringing us both up but she made it look easy.

'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'

David Cameron

'Guides, brownies, scouts, she's been involved in all of them over the years. She has a real passion for helping people.

'As amazed as I am by what she did, it's actual what I've come to expect from her.'

Today, a group of military wives, some pushing prams, arrived to lay flowers at the main gates of the barracks today to pay their respects to the dead soldier.

One of the women, in her 20s, who did not want to be named, said: '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.'

SOLDIER WAS WEARING A HELP FOR HEROES HOODIE WHEN HE WAS KILLED BY TWO CRAZED KNIFEMEN CLOSE TO WOOLWICH BARRACKS

 

Hoodie: A Help for Heroes top like the one the murdered soldier was wearing

The soldier killed by two crazed fanatics just yards from the Woolwich Barracks was wearing a Help for Heroes top when he was attacked.

The young serviceman was hit by a car and crushed into a road sign on the street in south-east London before he was brutally murdered.

Video footage showed the dead man was wearing a dark blue top with white writing on it - which is believed to be the same as the Help for Heroes hoodie (right).

The killers attacked him with a collection of weapons including meat cleavers and knives before waiting for police to arrive, their hands covered in blood.

Today members of the public were donating to the charity which helps wounded troops with their rehabilitation.

One man called Allan Beattie who donated to the charity wrote: 'In memory of the soldier brutally murdered yesterday - rest in peace - and a thank you to all of our brave service men and women who do so much for us'

Kelly Alexander, who also gave to the charity wrote: 'Last night a black cloud went over our country,it will never be the same again,Rip to this young man brutally slain in his home country.I salute you x'

To donate to Help for Heroes yourself, go to www.justgiving.com/helpforheroes

Tributes: A woman leaves flowers at the scene today following the killing which was condemned by the Muslim Council of Britain

The killers who executed a soldier on a London street were today condemned by Muslim groups for their 'truly barbaric act'.

The Muslim Council of Britain said the killers’ use of 'Islamic slogans' indicated they were motivated by their faith.

A statement from the council said: 'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.

'We understand the victim is a serving member of the Armed Forces. Muslims have long served in this country’s Armed Forces, proudly and with honour.

'This attack on a member of the Armed Forces is dishonourable, and no cause justifies this murder.'

The group called for vigilance and solidarity between 'all our communities, Muslim and non-Muslim', and for police to 'calm tensions'.

Akbar Khan from Building Bridges said : 'We totally condemn the killing of an innocent person in Woolwich.

'And we also condemn all forms of extremism wherever they are.

'The thoughts of the Muslim community are with the family of the man who lost his life, and we pray for him.'

Mohammed Shafiq from the Ramadhan Foundation said yesterday: 'I wish to condemn the evil and barbaric crime carried out in Woolwich.

'Our immediate thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims. From whatever angle you see the attack, it was at every level evil.

'We must allow the police to gather all the facts before unnecessary speculation and wait for the facts before determining its impact on our country.

'But what happens in the days to come, London and our nation will come together and will not be divided. The terrorists will never win and succeed in their evil plans.'

Julie Siddiqi, of the Islamic Society of Britain, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'We can’t allow the voices of Nick Griffin and the far right to become louder than ours in the coming days. 

'They will say what we have to say and it gives us even more incentive to speak out and come together and not allow people like that to divide us as a country.

'This is one of the most shocking things I have seen in recent years and to have the people of Woolwich have to experience that so close to them, I just feel is absolutely horrific.'


 http://tinyurl.com/oov9lqp