Woolwich attack on possible soldier

This report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22630303) mentions:

“Basically two men carried out an axe attack on a young army cadet walking along the street, by the looks of things the police responded and then shot them in front of the public, at the same time I couldn’t really tell if the cadet was fatally or not hurt as police were crowded around him.”

Still unconfirmed about who was involved, some stating it was a serving or ex-soldier, some saying it was possibly an Army Cadet. The person was wearing a Help for Heroes t-shirt. Not trying to be blunt, but I seriously hope it’s not an Army Cadet…

There is nothing to suggest that it actually was, apart from one random bystander. All the reports indicate that he was a soldier.

I have moved this into the Mess as it is not a formal ACO issue.

While we still don’t really know what happened, it is clearly a terrible event, and one that makes me feel a little less safe.

I was also surprised at how some passersby walked near the madman with a knife!

What are people’s opinion on the use of the word “terrorism” on this? A lot of arguments have cropped on on Facebook saying that the media just use it as a buzzword to get more attention.

The OED says that terrorism is “the unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims” - seeing as the perpetrators hung around afterwards giving interviews, I’d say that it fits the bill.

What would an Army Cadet be doing wandering the streets in uniform (I assume the victim WAS in a uniform?) on a Wednesday afternoon? More likely a serving soldier.

The convening of COBRA, the overtly political message given by the attacker in the ITV video and the fact that even the politicians are calling it terrorism suggests it is exactly that.

Gunner, the victim was in civvies wearing a Help for Heroes top. No uniform.

Topic title changed to avoid any confusion

" I don’t think it would be a Army Cadet at that time of day",and if it is a serving soldier it is a disgrace that this has happened,and all our thoughts should go out to the person’s Family.

I think its a disgrace whether its an army cadet, a serving soldier or just some random passesr by in a H4H tshirt.

there is a letter from Major Simon Ettinghausen, SO2 Cadets regarding the response the CadetForces should have in reaction to the incident on Bader
[confidential]https://news.bader.mod.uk/Lists/ACO%20Announcements/Attachments/208/20130523-Security_Advice_To_The_Cadet_Forces-COS-U.doc[/confidential]
[color=#880000][Link removed as, while not protectively marked, security information should not be put in the public domain.][/color]

From aco twitter feed

@aircadets: Many if you have received an email from HQAC. We ask that you refrain from sharing this via social media and if inform via other channels.