Post date: Jul 12, 2013 12:42:37 PM
Thousands of mourners gather to pay their respects to slain British soldier, Lee Rigby, who was butchered on the streets of London by two men in May.
BURY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 12, 2013) (ITN) - The tearful family of murdered British soldier Lee Rigby arrived for his funeral on Friday (July 12) to applause from thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets to pay their respects.
The 25-year-old Fusilier was hacked to death on the streets of southeast London in May, by two men wielding knives and a meat cleaver. Rigby, who had served in Afghanistan, was walking back to his Woolwich barracks when he was attacked in broad daylight.The funeral took place in Bury in the north of England and the service was relayed via a public announcement (PA) system so members of the public and veteran Fusiliers could follow proceedings from the street. British Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson attended.
Earlier, his mother and step-father, paid an emotional tribute to Lee.
"He was so loving, he really was, he was so loving. He would do anything for anybody, he had a heart of gold, he wouldn't hurt anybody, you know, he was my special boy," said a tearful Lyn Rigby.
"He was a devoted soldier, he loved what he was doing, he believed in what he was doing, but he was still a family man and that is what meant...you know, his sisters and his son, he was devoted and he'd have done anything. Whatever happened they came first, and then his job, which meant the world to him being in the army, but his family still came first," said Ian Rigby.
The family have been overwhelmed by messages of support from across the UK and from overseas. Flowers and cards are still arriving at the family home and at the Woolwich barracks.
"It has been really nice knowing that there is so much support, that there are so many kind and generous people out there. It's just horrible that it takes something such as this to make you see how many good people there are," said Rigby's wife and the mother their two-year-old, Rebecca Rigby.
Two men, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, have been charged with Rigby's murder. Adebolajo is also accused of attempting to murder two police officers at the scene and of being in possession of a firearm.
In 2010 Adebolajo was detained by Kenyan police in Mombasa before being deported to the UK. He was accused of seeking training with the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab in Somalia.