Terrorist attack in London

A serving British soldier has been hacked to death in the street this afternoon near Woolwich Barracks in London.  Reports suggest he was attacked in the street by two individuals carrying machetes and invoking the name 'Allah'; they were later shot by police officers.
Government sources are now reporting the murder as a suspected Islamist terrorist incident.
The news in more detail and (warning) some shockingly graphic eyewitness reports  here and here 
It's hard to take in the sickening violence of all this, but our first reaction should be to pray for the family of the soldier and for the repose of his soul, and for all who witnessed this most horrific attack.