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| Woolwich attack: MI5 'offered job to suspect' | Woolwich attack: MI5 'offered job to suspect' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MI5 asked Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo if he wanted to work for them, a childhood friend has said. | MI5 asked Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo if he wanted to work for them, a childhood friend has said. |
| Abu Nusaybah told BBC Two's Newsnight his friend had revealed to him six months ago that the security service had been "knocking on his door". | Abu Nusaybah told BBC Two's Newsnight his friend had revealed to him six months ago that the security service had been "knocking on his door". |
| He said Mr Adebolajo told him he had turned down an offer to work for them. The BBC could not obtain any confirmation from Whitehall sources. | He said Mr Adebolajo told him he had turned down an offer to work for them. The BBC could not obtain any confirmation from Whitehall sources. |
| Mr Nusaybah was arrested at the BBC after giving the interview. | Mr Nusaybah was arrested at the BBC after giving the interview. |
| Mr Nusaybah said that, six months ago, his friend was "basically being harassed by MI5, this is something that he specifically mentioned to me". | Mr Nusaybah said that, six months ago, his friend was "basically being harassed by MI5, this is something that he specifically mentioned to me". |
| He added: "His wording was, 'They are bugging me - they won't leave me alone.' | He added: "His wording was, 'They are bugging me - they won't leave me alone.' |
| "He mentioned initially they wanted to ask him if he knew certain individuals. | "He mentioned initially they wanted to ask him if he knew certain individuals. |
| "But after him saying that he didn't know these individuals, what he said was they asked him if he would be interested in working for them. | "But after him saying that he didn't know these individuals, what he said was they asked him if he would be interested in working for them. |
| "He was explicit in that he refused to work for them but he did confirm he didn't know the individuals." | "He was explicit in that he refused to work for them but he did confirm he didn't know the individuals." |
| Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was killed in front of dozens of people in Woolwich, south-east London, on Wednesday afternoon. | |
| Shortly after the killing, 28-year-old Mr Adebolajo, originally from Romford, east London, was filmed by a passer-by saying he had carried out the attack because British soldiers killed Muslims every day. | |
| Armed police arrived on the scene and shot and wounded two suspects, who had made no attempt to flee. | |
| Mr Adebolajo and fellow suspect Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, south-east London, remain in hospital. |