Lee Rigby’s family visit murder scene
Members of Drummer Lee Rigby’s family visit the scene of his murder in Woolwich, as churches across the country pray for the victim and his family in their Sunday services.
They laid flowers at the Woolwich Barracks where the 25-year-old soldier with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was based, and where hundreds of floral tributes have already been left by wellwishers.
Their visit came as Home Secretary Theresa May warned there are potentially thousands of people at risk of being radicalised in the UK, as she indicated plans for a fresh crackdown on extremist groups.
His family hugged and comforted each other as they looked as some of the many thousands of floral tributes that have been left in memory of the soldier.
Emotional scenes
Drummer Rigby’s widow Rebecca, clutching a Peppa Pig soft toy, pinned a balloon with the words ‘Dad in a million’ close to the spot where her husband was killed.
They spent a few moments in reflection, clutching each other.
Lee’s mother Lyn, 46, holding a teddy bear, and stepfather Ian, 54, consoled each other as they walked along the wall of flowers, while dozens of passers-by lined the street in silence.
Lyn Rigby collapsed on to the edge of the pavement as she wept uncontrollably, and sat on the kerb while other family members wrapped their arms around her.
Some of the group appeared too overcome with emotion and got back inside the row of cars that had taken them to the scene.
Others then crossed back to the other side of the road, which had been closed by police, where they continued to examine some of the many tributes.
They put their arms around one another and hugged before heading off in the direction of the Woolwich barracks.
Crowds gather
The emotional scene was watched by hundreds of members of the public who had also gone to pay their respects to the soldier who was brutally killed on Wednesday.
They were held back by police while the soldier’s family visited, and looked on in respectful silence during the 20 minutes they were there.
A large group of people from Woolwich Sikh Temple were among those who came to pay their respects.
Sewa Singh Nandhra was given a large round of applause from the crowd of onlookers as he spoke on behalf of the Sikh community and urged everyone to stay peaceful and calm.
“We condemn what happened,” he said. “It is sheer terrorism, despicable and awful.
“We condemn violence and all sorts of similar acts. No cause on earth to justify such a killing or an act. Our condolences and sympathies lie with the family.
“We are parishioners and we have got to work to maintain the harmony between all the faiths and across all communities. We will work with them and I would urge everybody to support police to bring this episode to a satisfactory conclusion.”
Calls for peace
Prayers were held in churches across the country for the fallen soldier. The Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Woolwich, just a few streets away from where Lee Rigby was killed, devoted its Sunday service to the young father.
The Reverend Jesse van der Valk offered reassurance to the 50-strong congregation and spoke of the hope that had come out of the tragedy.
Mr van der Valk said he had felt “privileged” that many of Drummer Rigby’s fellow soldiers at the barracks at had come to the church on Thursday evening, the day after the attack, for a quiet period of reflection and prayer.
He likened the effect the attack has had on the community as to when Stephen Lawrence was killed in Eltham, just a few miles away from Woolwich.
After the hour-long service, where prayers were said for the soldier and his family, Mr van der Valk said: “There is certainly a feeling of rage and anger about what’s happened, both locally and nationally, especially against those who’ve done this. But that’s not the only feeling.
“Clearly there’s a great sense of sadness about what happened to Drummer Rigby. Everyone is very sad and upset, both here and all around the country.
“The local people here feel he was a member of their community and there has been a real outpouring of love and concern, as can be seen by the flowers.
Churchgoers spoke of their shock at the killing, with one saying he feared the backlash that has happened as a result of it.
Fred Okine, 62, said: “I think that what happened is not a reflection of somebody’s faith, it’s because they have something psychologically wrong.
“The people who are stirring up trouble now are from outside the community, people here just want peace.”
