London attack alarms officials

Two men attacked another man near a London military barracks on Wednesday. Initial reports said British authorities were investigating the incident as a possible terror act.

The attack left one man dead and two others injured.

Police were called to the scene around 1420 GMT in Woolwich to find two-men attacking the victim, who was later pronounced dead, London Metropolitan Police Commander Letchford told reporters.

"Two men, who we believe from early reports to have been carrying weapons, were shot by police."

The assailants have been taken to separate local hospitals to be treated for their injuries, he said.

Nick Raynsford, the member of parliament for Woolwich and Greenwich, said his understanding was that the man found dead was a serving soldier.

The police spokesperson said the Metropolitan Police would continue to investigate the matter and could give no further details.

ITV news broadcast footage taken at the scene in which a man carrying a knife and a meat cleaver in his blood-covered hands told the camera: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you."

"You people will never be safe. Remove your government. They don't care about you," he said.

United Kingdom authorities had reportedly begun investigating the victim's death as part of a "terrorist-motivated attack," according to a government official speaking to the Associated Press news agency on the condition of anonymity.

Speaking at press conference in Paris, Prime Minister David Cameron called the event "appalling."

"There are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident," Cameron said.

The home secretary headed a Cobra meeting in response to the murder on Wednesday evening. The emergency response group convenes on matters of national security.

kms/ipj (AP, AFP, Reuters)