Daily Mail UK 23 May 2013
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.'
The barracks, also known as the Woolwich station, now houses a number of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and independent companies of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards.
Woolwich Common remains a designated military training area. The shooting events at the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held at a temporary venue at the Barracks.
SOLDIER WAS WEARING A HELP FOR HEROES HOODIE WHEN HE WAS KILLED
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 (above).
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'
'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam': Killers who butchered soldiers are condemned by Muslim groups
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.'