LONDON — A government minister said Friday that police and security services would face inquiries into their previous handling of two men accused of hacking a British soldier to death on a busy London street two days ago.
British security officials confirmed Thursday that the suspects were known to MI5, the domestic security agency, in the years before the attack.
Eric Pickles, the communities minister, said Friday that the killing would prompt the authorities to debate measures to forestall similar threats in the future.
“I think it’s probably too soon to assess the powers we need,” Pickles said in a radio interview. “But, once the investigation is through, both aspects of the security services and aspects of the policing of these two individuals will be thoroughly investigated, and no doubt recommendations will come out of that.”
Pickles was responding to a question about whether legislation to permit more intrusive electronic surveillance that is known by its critics as the “snoopers’ charter” might have prevented the attacks.
“I know of nothing that would suggest that provisions that were in that bill would have made any difference in this case or would have saved the life of the young member of the armed forces,” Pickles said.
The victim was identified as Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old army bandsman and machine-gunner who had served in Afghanistan and was the father of a 2-year-old boy. He had left his barracks in plainclothes to visit his mother, authorities said.
The soldier’s family gave a wrenching and tearful news conference Friday in Manchester, his home town.
“We would like to say goodnight, Lee, rest in peace, our fallen soldier, we love you loads and words cannot describe how loved and sadly missed you will be,” his stepfather, Ian Rigby, said as the soldier’s 30-year-old widow, Rebecca Rigby, and mother, Lyn Rigby, sobbed on either side of him.
“When he’s in the U.K.,” his widow said, “you think he’s safe.”
