Attack on British Soldier by Religious Extremists

[Content Note: Descriptions of violence; death; religious extremism.]

I mentioned this in comments of today's In The News, but, as additional details have emerged, I thought it needed its own post: Today in London, a man presumed to be a British soldier was attacked in the street by two men who killed him with some combination of knives, meat cleavers, and/or machetes. The men then waited for police to arrive, then, according to witnesses, made for police with brandished weapons, and were shot. Both men have been "taken to separate London hospitals, where they are receiving treatment for their injuries."

ITV has video of the scene [please proceed with caution, as it may be triggering], which shows one of the assailants, his hands covered and blood and holding a knife and a meat cleaver, giving a statement to the camera before police arrived. His full statement: "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. This British soldier is an eye for an eye a tooth for tooth. We apologise that women had to see 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."

The Guardian is providing updates as information becomes available here. Please be warned there is an image of one of the assailants with bloody hands and weaponry currently at the top of the page.

I am so sad and angry for the victim's family, friends, and colleagues. I am sad and angry for the community in which this happened. I am sad for the people who cared about the assailants but do not share their violent urges. I am sad for the police who, it appears, were obliged to shoot them. I am worried for the Muslim community in Britain, who will no doubt be targeted for retribution irrespective of their feelings about his heinous act of violence. I am sad and angry and frustrated that this happened, for so many reasons.

I don't even know what else to say.