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Lee Rigby murder accused 'begged Allah' to ensure he killed a soldier Lee Rigby murder accused 'begged Allah' to ensure he killed a soldier
(35 minutes later)
A man accused of murdering Lee Rigby has told a court that he "begged" Allah to ensure he would only kill a soldier in the moments before the attack.A man accused of murdering Lee Rigby has told a court that he "begged" Allah to ensure he would only kill a soldier in the moments before the attack.
Giving evidence from the witness box at the Old Bailey, Michael Adebolajo told jurors that he prayed that he would strike only a soldier before the fatal attack on 22 May.Giving evidence from the witness box at the Old Bailey, Michael Adebolajo told jurors that he prayed that he would strike only a soldier before the fatal attack on 22 May.
Adebolajo, 28, also said that he considered al-Qaida his "brothers in Islam" and that he was radicalised in part by television coverage of the Iraq invasion.Adebolajo, 28, also said that he considered al-Qaida his "brothers in Islam" and that he was radicalised in part by television coverage of the Iraq invasion.
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich. They also deny conspiracy to murder a police officer and the attempted murder of a police officer.Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich. They also deny conspiracy to murder a police officer and the attempted murder of a police officer.
Asked by his defence barrister David Gottlieb how he could be certain that Rigby was a soldier before the attack, Adebolajo told the court: "Well, I don't believe there is a way to know 100% he was a soldier. However, there was some steps we took before we set out on the day.Asked by his defence barrister David Gottlieb how he could be certain that Rigby was a soldier before the attack, Adebolajo told the court: "Well, I don't believe there is a way to know 100% he was a soldier. However, there was some steps we took before we set out on the day.
"I stayed up worshipping Allah, begging him that he make the mission a success, that we strike a soldier and a soldier only."I stayed up worshipping Allah, begging him that he make the mission a success, that we strike a soldier and a soldier only.
"As well as that, while we were waiting we continued to beg Allah to ensure that we did not target anyone outside the permissibility of Islam. I saw the soldier, he was carrying this type of bag they all carry in Woolwich."As well as that, while we were waiting we continued to beg Allah to ensure that we did not target anyone outside the permissibility of Islam. I saw the soldier, he was carrying this type of bag they all carry in Woolwich.
"Then we waited to ensure he was going towards the entrance of the barracks. These things combined made me certain that he was a soldier.""Then we waited to ensure he was going towards the entrance of the barracks. These things combined made me certain that he was a soldier."
Dressed in black, Adebolajo gave his name as Mujahid Abu Hamza and was flanked by five prison guards as he sat in the witness box, just metres from Rigby's family.Dressed in black, Adebolajo gave his name as Mujahid Abu Hamza and was flanked by five prison guards as he sat in the witness box, just metres from Rigby's family.
Adebolajo told jurors that he was "wholeheartedly against" British foreign policy and that he was "disgusted" by television coverage of the US-led shock and awe operation in Iraq in 2003.Adebolajo told jurors that he was "wholeheartedly against" British foreign policy and that he was "disgusted" by television coverage of the US-led shock and awe operation in Iraq in 2003.
"The Iraq war probably grated on me the most when I was in college. I remember watching the news, watching Trevor McDonald, I remember I saw Operation Shock and Awe unfold on the news. I was disgusted.
"They were reporting it as if it was something praiseworthy … the might of the west. It disgusted me. I wasn't Muslim at the time but it disgusted me."
Adebolajo, who appeared to have some of his front teeth missing, described how he was raised by Christian parents and would attend church every Sunday.Adebolajo, who appeared to have some of his front teeth missing, described how he was raised by Christian parents and would attend church every Sunday.
He said he converted to Islam in his first year at the University of Greenwich and that it was his "everything".He said he converted to Islam in his first year at the University of Greenwich and that it was his "everything".
"My religion is everything," he said. "When I came to Islam I realised that … real success is not just what you can acquire, but really is if you make it to paradise, because then you can relax.""My religion is everything," he said. "When I came to Islam I realised that … real success is not just what you can acquire, but really is if you make it to paradise, because then you can relax."
Asked for his opinion on al-Qaida, Adebolajo said: "al-Qaida I consider them a mujahid group. I love them. They are my brothers. I never met them but I love them. I consider them my brothers in Islam."Asked for his opinion on al-Qaida, Adebolajo said: "al-Qaida I consider them a mujahid group. I love them. They are my brothers. I never met them but I love them. I consider them my brothers in Islam."
He later told jurors that he realised he might end up killing a soldier when he converted to Islam.He later told jurors that he realised he might end up killing a soldier when he converted to Islam.
"I never, obviously growing up I never thought about killing a man. It's not the type of thing the young child thinks about," he said."I never, obviously growing up I never thought about killing a man. It's not the type of thing the young child thinks about," he said.
"But when the soldier joins the army he knows he will likely kill a man in his tour of duty … When I became a Muslim I realised I might end up killing a soldier.""But when the soldier joins the army he knows he will likely kill a man in his tour of duty … When I became a Muslim I realised I might end up killing a soldier."
Adebolajo said it was "childish" to ask how he believes his own views compare with those of the average British Muslim.Adebolajo said it was "childish" to ask how he believes his own views compare with those of the average British Muslim.
"I love every Muslim," he said. "Allah said it's my duty to protect them even if they hate my guts right now because of my actions. That's not my concern. My concern is does Allah love me.""I love every Muslim," he said. "Allah said it's my duty to protect them even if they hate my guts right now because of my actions. That's not my concern. My concern is does Allah love me."
He said he believed that the British people have become "so arrogant" that they believed that "only our lives are valuable".
"The love for my mother is not greater than an Afghanistan man for his mother," he said. "Why is that greater than an Afghanistan man for his mother? I don't believe this."
Adebolajo told the court that he tried to go to Somalia in 2010 because he wanted to live in accordance with sharia law, but was detained by Kenyan police.
The 28-year-old, who grew up in Romford in London, said he was arrested unjustly on two counts of assault against police officers after attending a demonstration. It was while being held in the police cells after his arrest, he said, that he began to see political protest as "impotent rage".
"It allows you to let off steam. The reality is no demonstration will make a difference. Even the 1 million people [who] marched against the Iraq war it did not change a single thing."
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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