The brutal and flagrant murder of an off-duty British soldier on a street in a London suburb in broad daylight on May 22 has caused both shock and horror in Britain. The two alleged assailants were British nationals of Nigerian origin in their 20s who had converted to Islam and been imbued with jihadist doctrines.

The assailants made no attempt to disguise the murder that they committed with knives and a hatchet. Nor did they try to escape from the scene. When two British women with outstanding courage attempted to succor the victim and remonstrate with the killers, one of the alleged assailants with blood on his hands ranted against the British Army for their involvement in attacks on Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq and declared that they demanded "an eye for an eye." Much of this scene was recorded on CCTV cameras and mobile telephones of passers-by.

When the police reached the scene, the two alleged assailants, who were armed, apparently attempted to attack the police. They were then shot in the legs by police marksmen. Both were taken to hospital under armed guard. One of the assailants has been released from hospital and been charged with murder and the attempted murder of a police officer. No doubt his companion will be similarly charged as soon as he is fit enough to leave hospital.