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| Two Accused of Soldier’s Murder Appear in Court | Two Accused of Soldier’s Murder Appear in Court |
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| LONDON — Two men accused of hacking an off-duty British soldier to death on a South London street last month appeared in separate courts for hearings on Monday as politicians met to seek ways of thwarting what the government has termed the “poisonous narrative” of militant radicalization. | |
| The men, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, both of Nigerian descent, face murder charges in the May 22 death of the soldier, Lee Rigby, 25, a military drummer and machine-gunner who had served with British forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere. After the soldier’s killing, both suspects were shot and wounded by police. | The men, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, both of Nigerian descent, face murder charges in the May 22 death of the soldier, Lee Rigby, 25, a military drummer and machine-gunner who had served with British forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere. After the soldier’s killing, both suspects were shot and wounded by police. |
| Mr. Adebowale was formally charged with murder last week, and Mr. Adebolajo appeared in a magistrate’s court on Monday to be formally arraigned. He was also charged with other offenses, including the attempted murder of two police officers and possession of a revolver, identified as a 9.4-millimeter KNIL model 91. | Mr. Adebowale was formally charged with murder last week, and Mr. Adebolajo appeared in a magistrate’s court on Monday to be formally arraigned. He was also charged with other offenses, including the attempted murder of two police officers and possession of a revolver, identified as a 9.4-millimeter KNIL model 91. |
| Weapons experts said the revolver is a large-bore, antique handgun first manufactured in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. | Weapons experts said the revolver is a large-bore, antique handgun first manufactured in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. |
| According to reporters in the Westminster Magistrates Court, Mr. Adebolajo was wearing a white T-shirt and blew a kiss to an unidentified man in the public gallery. Both men then pointed to the sky. | According to reporters in the Westminster Magistrates Court, Mr. Adebolajo was wearing a white T-shirt and blew a kiss to an unidentified man in the public gallery. Both men then pointed to the sky. |
| His left arm was bandaged and held a copy of the Koran. As is customary in a British court, he was asked to stand to face the charges and replied: “May I ask why? May I ask why?” | His left arm was bandaged and held a copy of the Koran. As is customary in a British court, he was asked to stand to face the charges and replied: “May I ask why? May I ask why?” |
| “I want to sit,” he said, according to The Press Association news agency. Mr. Adebolajo finally rose to his feet, but at the end of the brief hearing he asked the magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot: “I would like to alleviate the pain if I may?” | “I want to sit,” he said, according to The Press Association news agency. Mr. Adebolajo finally rose to his feet, but at the end of the brief hearing he asked the magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot: “I would like to alleviate the pain if I may?” |
| He kissed the Koran and raised his arm into the air. Mr. Adebolajo was ordered to appear at a higher court within 48 hours. | He kissed the Koran and raised his arm into the air. Mr. Adebolajo was ordered to appear at a higher court within 48 hours. |
| For his part, Mr. Adebowale appeared via video link at the Old Bailey criminal court and was told a further preliminary hearing would be held on June 28 when the cases against both men would be heard together. He did not seek bail, news reports said. | |
| The proceedings came after a weekend in which crowds added floral tributes to the thousands of bouquets left by well-wishers in the Woolwich neighborhood where Mr. Rigby was killed in full view of passers-by as he returned to an army barracks wearing a T-shirt with the name of a military charity. | The proceedings came after a weekend in which crowds added floral tributes to the thousands of bouquets left by well-wishers in the Woolwich neighborhood where Mr. Rigby was killed in full view of passers-by as he returned to an army barracks wearing a T-shirt with the name of a military charity. |
| While some mourned, others protested, and violent clashes broke out near the Parliaments in London and Edinburgh between rightists demonstrating against Islamic militancy and others promoting tolerance. In other cities, extreme rightists confronted campaigners opposed to racism and fascism. Scores of people were arrested in London on public order offenses after the police broke up fights. | While some mourned, others protested, and violent clashes broke out near the Parliaments in London and Edinburgh between rightists demonstrating against Islamic militancy and others promoting tolerance. In other cities, extreme rightists confronted campaigners opposed to racism and fascism. Scores of people were arrested in London on public order offenses after the police broke up fights. |
| After the May 22 attack, Prime Minister David Cameron set up a panel of senior politicians and law enforcement officers that held its first exploratory meeting on Monday before the prime minister addressed Parliament. The group is to focus on ways of combating the radicalization of young people and try to gauge the influence of clerics seeking to recruit potential militants in prisons, schools, colleges and mosques. | |
| Government officials said it would meet once a month. |