Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News-2013-05-23

Outraged British Muslims have distanced themselves from a maniacal attack on an army cadet by two machete-wielding men near an army barrack in Woolwich, south London saying the merciless killing is contradictory to the basic teachings of Islam.

In a press statement, the umbrella Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) 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.”

Video footage filmed by an onlooker and broadcast by Britain's ITV news channel showed a man who media reports was a serving British soldier with hands covered in blood and holding a bloodied meat cleaver and a knife.

"We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” the man carrying a knife and a machete said in the video.

"I apologise that women had to witness this today but in our lands, our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don't care about you,” he said.

The unnamed man even took a swipe at British Prime Minister David Cameron, saying, “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?”

Meanwhile British Prime Minister David Cameroon who shortened his visit to Paris to return to London said there were “strong indications that it is a terrorist incident”. "People across Britain, people in every community, I believe, will utterly condemn this attack.

"It is the most appalling crime. We are obviously seeking, and the police are urgently seeking, the full facts about this case," said Cameron

The MCB has raised concern that the attacks could fuel hostility against Muslims and no doubt heighten tensions on the streets in Britain. The group reiterated support for government efforts to keep the country safe.

The English Defence League, a far right group, wanted to use the attack to their advantage. They came out last night chanting 'no surrender to Muslims,' and clashed with riot police.  Overnight there were two attacks on masjids and social networking platforms were flooded with people expressing anti-Muslim sentiment after the incident.

“Muslims have long served in this country’s Armed Forces, proudly and with honor. This attack on a member of the Armed Forces is dishonorable, and no cause justifies this murder. We call on all our communities, Muslim and non-Muslim, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail,” said the MCB.

The umbrella body added it is important to allow police authorities to do their job without speculation, urged the utmost vigilance and asked the police authorities to calm tensions.

Ahmed Jama, a 26-year-old resident in Woolwich, laid flowers down at the scene as a sign of respect to the families involved. He told Al-Jazeera, "This has nothing to do with Islam, this has nothing to do with our religion. This has nothing to do with Allah," he said. "It's heartbreaking, it's heartbreaking."