Britain braced for copycat terror attacks after soldier's killing

Britain is bracing not just for clashes with right-wing extremists but for possible copycat terror attacks after the brutal slaying of a young soldier on Wednesday.

London's Metropolitan Police said more than 1,000 officers will be sent to potential trouble spots with armed response units. Only a fraction of Britain's police officers are armed.

The attack was captured on video by witnesses and made for gruesome viewing; one man is seen, his hands red with blood, holding two butcher's knives as he angrily complained about the British government and troops in foreign lands. A lifeless body is seen on the street behind him.

Terror analysts say the attackers wanted the publicity to inspire copycat attacks, and that they are already seeing an increase in chatter on extremist websites calling for such attacks.

"We can see the tempo being raised," said Maajid Nawaz, a former jihadist who is now with the London-based anti-extremist Quilliam Foundation.