The brutal murder of a British soldier near an army barracks in Woolwich, London, has the hallmarks of a militant mindset.

This mentality was also evident in the killing of seven people by a lone gunman — Mohamed Merah in Toulouse last year — and the Boston brothers spraying bullets on marathon runners last month. A proper understanding of the actions of these attackers may not be in terms of politics but in terms of a particular psychopathology.

Security has been stepped up in Britain after this incident in view of a possible backlash against Muslims and their mosques. In fact, a few miscreants have already been arrested while trying to attack mosques. Ordinary Britons must understand that an eye for an eye strategy will be playing into the terrorists’ hands. They will use the excuse to their advantage and recruit more comrades. We presume Britain is not Pakistan wherein police will either disappear or mute spectators when non-Muslim communities are attacked.

Britons should look out for people and institutions using the freedom of speech ruse to spread hate speeches among the youth. It is important that freedom of speech or action be curbed by imposing restrictions. The Woolwich murder is a stern warning for what could happen in other cities across the UK. This is a wake up call for all Britons!

— Masood Khan, Jubail