Begge terroristene som begikk den uhyrlige ugjerningen i går ettermiddag, var kjent for britiske sikkerhetsmyndigheter fra før, oppgir departementskilder til BBC.

One of the suspects is understood to be 28-year-old Muslim convert Michael Adebolajo, according to sources.

Sources said reports that the men had featured in «several investigations» in recent years, but were not deemed to be planning an attack, «were not inaccurate».

They confirmed that one of the suspects was intercepted by police last year while leaving the country.

According to BBC sources, Mr Adebolajo comes from a devout Christian family but took up Islam after leaving college in 2001.

Fienden er, i alle fall til dels, hjemmeavlet. Adebolajo skal være født og oppvokst i England med nigerianske foreldre.

BBC: Woolwich attack: Suspects known to security services