Lee Rigby (pictured), 25, was brutally hacked to death by Islamic terrorists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale on his way back to Woolwich Barracks on May 22, 2013
An unofficial memorial to murdered solider Lee Rigby will not be removed after residents warned of ‘riots’ if it was torn up.
The plaque in Woolwich, south-east London, was installed over the weekend in place of a paving slab near the Royal Artillery Barracks.
It serves as a reminder to the brutal killing carried out nearby by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in May 2013.
There were fears the plaque would be removed, as bosses at the Royal Borough of Greenwich stressed a ‘permanent local memorial’ had already been installed in 2015.
This one, however, is located a short distance away at St George’s Garrison Church which some say is not close enough to the scene of his death.
Alison Miles, who lives nearby, warned of drastic action if the memorial were to be removed.
He told the News Shopper: ‘They have taped and coned it off. If they take it away there will be riots.
‘If they take the memorial then they are going to have to take me too.
‘I wouldn’t go into a graveyard and start digging up graves. It’s a memorial, it is disgusting (to rip it up).’
Over the weekend an unofficial plaque (pictured) to Fusilier Rigby was installed in place of a paving slab near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich – close to where the brutal attack took place
The local council recently installed cones around the plaque, leading to fears it would be removed.
Dozens took to Facebook and Twitter soon after the news broke, expressing their anger and disappointment.
Ian Hawke, who has created a Facebook page dedicated to Fusilier Rigby, said in a video that he was ‘gobsmacked’ by the appearance of cones and tape.
He said: ‘Why are they removing it before Remembrance Day? This is getting beyond a joke.’
Ian Hawke (pictured), who has created a Facebook page dedicated to Fusilier Rigby, said in a video he was ‘gobsmacked’ and ‘furious’ over news the plaque would be removed
Later in the video, he urged people to stand on the memorial and make sure it was not removed.
Another, writing on Twitter, said: ‘Why can’t there be a memorial for Lee Rigby at the place he was butchered?
‘Fallen police officers and all sorts of other murder victims have memorials in London. Why not one for this man?’
A change.org petition has also been created urging council bosses to leave the memorial in place.
Created by Ted Newman, it reads: ‘Recently a memorial stone was laid where British soldier Lee Rigby was brutally murdered […] in Greenwich South London.
‘The stone is harming nobody, yet Greenwich council have decided to remove it.
‘We demand that Lee Rigby’s stone is left in place.’
The petition has now been signed by 1,071 people out of a proposed target of 1,500.
Commenting on the petition, Anne Ellis said: ‘This soldier deserves a memorial. He fought for this country and was brutally murdered whilst walking along the street minding his own business.’
A change.org petition (pictured) has been started urging bosses at the Royal Borough of Greenwich to leave the recently installed memorial alone
Lee Rigby’s killers Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale (right) pictured in undated police handout photos. The two were found guilty of the murder of 25-year-old Lee Rigby in May, 2013
Bosses at Royal Borough of Greenwich Council have since responded to rumours of the plaques removal.
Danny Thorpe, leader of the council, told the News Shopper: ‘Over the weekend a member of the public replaced a paving slab by the site of Fusilier Rigby’s murder with a memorial stone.
‘Rumours are circulating on social media that we are planning to remove that memorial this week – these rumours are not true.
‘We continue to talk to members of the Rigby family and have not reached a decision on the new memorial stone.’
Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were found guilty of the murder of Fusilier Rigby in May 2013.
In broad daylight, Drummer Rigby, 25, the married father of a little boy, was run over then hacked to death in front of horrified onlookers.