Lee Rigby’s murder by Islamic extremists happened on the same date as Manchester Arena suicide bombing
LEE Rigby's brutal murder at the hands of Islamic extremists happened on the SAME DATE as last night's Manchester Arena suicide bombing.
The army drummer was knifed by sick Islamist pair Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale outside the Woolwich Barracks four years ago to the day.
And in a chilling echo of his death, 22 people have been killed by a suicide bomber at an Ariana Grande gig.
It is the worst terror attack in the UK in more than ten years, when 56 people were killed when suicide bombers targeted the London transport network in June 2005.
Today his mum Lyn reached out to those who were affected - and called on everyone to "stand together" against terror.
The attacker then went on to stab hero police officer Keith Palmer to death outside the Houses of Parliament on 22 March.
Fusilier Rigby was butchered by sick fanatics Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale outside Woolwich Barracks in south-east London on 22 May 2013.
It's not the first time Manchester has been targeted by terrorists.
More than 20-years-ago the city was the target of an IRA bomb which exploded outside a Marks & Spencer.
The attack at the Arndale shopping centre left 212 injured after 75,000 were evacuated following a warning tip-off by the group.
Manchester Arena attack
Nineteen people were killed and at least 59 injured last night after a suspected suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.
Young concert-goers - many of whom would have been teenagers - are feared to have been caught up in the terror attack.
Horrifying pictures from the scene, described by a witness as a "war zone", showed bloodied victims being carried out on stretchers.
Lee Rigby murder
Fusilier Rigby was slaughtered by Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, after being ambushed outside his military barracks.
He was "mutilated and almost decapitated" by the pair who described themselves as"soldiers of Allah". They showed no remorse for the murder.
The sickos ran the dad-of-one down in a car before butchering him with a machete as horrified witnesses watched on.
Westminster attack
Just two-months-ago, fanatical Islamist Khalid Masood killed four after running them down on the crowded Westminster Bridge in central London.
He then went to the Houses of Parliament where he knifed PC Palmer, 48, to death before being shot by armed guards.
The married father extremist was taken to hospital where he died from gunshot wounds.
London 7/7 bombings
A shocking 56 people were killed and more than 700 injured when coordinated blasts went off on London's Tube network during rush hour on 7 July 2005.
Four Islamist extremists detonated three bombs in backpacks on the capital's Underground in the worst terror attack in British history.
The first device exploded on the Circle Line, the second at Edgeware Road, third on the Piccadilly Line and fourth on the top deck of a double-decker bus.