RELATIVES of a British
soldier killed in broad daylight by alleged Islamic extremists say they are
profoundly grateful for the support they have received from the public ahead of
his funeral today.
Lee Rigby was hacked to death May
22 on a London street near his army barracks. The killing shocked Britain and
much of the world, especially when one of the suspects - his hands still bloody
- boasted of the attack on a video widely broadcast by the media.
A military parade escorted the
body of the British soldier to the church where his funeral is to take place.
Drummers escorted the funeral
cortege to the church in Bury, Greater Manchester, on Thursday.
The town is not far from Rigby's
home town of Middleton.
Thousands of people lined the
route, breaking into applause and throwing flowers as the cortege made its way
past.
A short ceremony took place at
the church, attended by family members, before the main service today.
Prime Minister David Cameron has
said "the whole country will be mourning with'' Rigby's family when the
soldier is laid to rest.
His widow, Rebecca, expressed
gratitude for the "overwhelming'' outpouring of support following the
attack.
"There are so many kind and
generous people out there,'' she said in an interview ahead of the funeral.
"It's just horrible that it
takes something such as this to make you see how many good people there are.''
She said Rigby had always wanted
his funeral service to be a "remembrance of his life,'' filled with happy
memories - such as Rigby's love of the Irish boy band Westlife.
"He just wanted to put a
smile on everyone's face,'' she said, recalling Rigby as "so bubbly'' and
energetic.
"He lived his life like a
kid in a candy shop.''
Thousands are expected to line
the streets and pay their respects to Rigby as his casket is carried through
the centre of the town after the private memorial service, but Rebecca Rigby
said she hoped time at the cemetery would be for family to "say our
goodbyes''.
Rigby's parents said they hoped
the day would offer `"respect and dignity'' for their son, who loved being
a soldier as much as he loved being a family man.
"His job meant the world to
him, being in the army,'' said his father, Ian Rigby.
"But his family still came
first.''
Rigby's death caused a spike in
racial tensions in Britain due to the apparent involvement of religious
extremists. Police reported an increase in attacks against Muslim mosques and
community centres.
The two men charged in relation
to Rigby's murder - Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22 - are due
to stand trial in November.
Naunews
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