Soldier Beheaded In London Identified As Passionate And Life-Long Manchester United Fan Lee Rigby

The soldier beheaded in London Wednesday, in a terrorist attack described by UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron as an attack that “has sickened us all,” was identified as passionate and life-long Manchester United fan Lee Rigby.

Drummer Lee Rigby is a 25-year-old father-of-one and reports to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He was mown down in a car before being brutally butchered with knives and meat cleavers in front of horrified witnesses in broad daylight.

Rigby is a life-long Manchester United fan and has a two-year-old son Jack, with wife Rebecca, who he married in Calderwale, West Yorkshire, in 2007.

Born in Crumpsall, Manchester, Drummer Rigby joined the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2006 and was an enthusiastic and accomplished member of the Corp of Drums and, together with his infantry duties, remained passionately interested in music with an equal passion for Manchester United. He was known to his friends as “Riggers.”

One of Lee Rigby’s colleague, Warrant Officer Class 1 Ned Miller, Regimental Sergeant Major Second Fusiliers, said that Riggers “would always stop for a chat just to tell me Manchester United would win the league again.”

Riggers brings his dedication and passion for the football league in his commitment to his job.

The commanding officer of Second Fusiliers, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor MBE, described Drummer Rigby as a “dedicated and professional soldier.”

He said, "He was a real character within the Second Fusiliers. Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums. An experienced and talented side drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus.

"His ability, talent and personality made him a natural choice to work in the recruiting group. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Second Fusiliers.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. Once a Fusilier, Always a Fusilier."

The barbaric attack in Woolwich, which has shocked the whole nation and drew condemnation from U.S. President Barack Obama, happened at 2:20 p.m. GMT on a busy main road just 50 yards from a primary school and 200 yards from Woolwich Barracks in South East London.

It was reported today by UK’s The Mirror that the suspected killers are of Nigerian background. They are most likely British citizens converted to a radical form of Islam.

Authorities say they are not thought to have links to terror groups based in Nigeria, such as the jihadist militant organization Boko Haram.

The British Foreign Office warns of a high threat from terrorism in the West African nation and raises the prospect of a risk of retaliatory attacks following the French intervention in Mali.

Boko Haram is the most prominent terrorist group in Nigeria. The group’s extremists aspire to establish Islamic law in Nigeria and carry out attacks across states mainly in the north.

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