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Lee Rigby trial: Adebolajo admits killing but says he was obeying Allah Lee Rigby trial: Adebolajo admits killing but says he was obeying Allah
(about 13 hours later)
Michael Adebolajo, one of the two men accused of murdering Lee Rigby, has admitted in court for the first time that he killed and tried to decapitate the soldier, insisting that in doing so he had been "obeying the command of Allah".Michael Adebolajo, one of the two men accused of murdering Lee Rigby, has admitted in court for the first time that he killed and tried to decapitate the soldier, insisting that in doing so he had been "obeying the command of Allah".
In front of members of the soldier's family including his widow Rebecca, mother Lyn and stepfather Ian, Adebolajo declared his love for al-Qaida and told the Old Bailey he was "a soldier of Allah".In front of members of the soldier's family including his widow Rebecca, mother Lyn and stepfather Ian, Adebolajo declared his love for al-Qaida and told the Old Bailey he was "a soldier of Allah".
"Allah commands that I fight those militaries that attack the Muslims," he said. "I don't feel that I have any choice. I obey Allah and I commit my affairs into his hands.""Allah commands that I fight those militaries that attack the Muslims," he said. "I don't feel that I have any choice. I obey Allah and I commit my affairs into his hands."
The jury has heard that Fusilier Rigby died on 22 May when he was run over by a car close to the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, south London, before being attacked by two men wielding knives and a machete.The jury has heard that Fusilier Rigby died on 22 May when he was run over by a car close to the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, south London, before being attacked by two men wielding knives and a machete.
Speaking in a low voice, but with a composure that faltered only occasionally during four hours on the witness stand, Adebolajo told the court he had killed Rigby in an attack that had also involved co-accused Michael Adebowale.Speaking in a low voice, but with a composure that faltered only occasionally during four hours on the witness stand, Adebolajo told the court he had killed Rigby in an attack that had also involved co-accused Michael Adebowale.
"We planned a military attack which obviously involved – sadly, it's not something enjoyable – the death of a soldier," he said."We planned a military attack which obviously involved – sadly, it's not something enjoyable – the death of a soldier," he said.
Despite Adebowale's admission that he had killed Rigby, both men deny murder. Adebolajo was asked by his barrister, David Gottlieb: "What is your defence to the charge of murder?" He said: "I am a soldier. I am a soldier. I am a soldier of Allah. Despite Adebolajo's admission that he had killed Rigby, both men deny murder. Adebolajo was asked by his barrister, David Gottlieb: "What is your defence to the charge of murder?" He said: "I am a soldier. I am a soldier. I am a soldier of Allah.
"I understand that some people might not recognise this because we do not wear fatigues and we do not go to the Brecon Beacons to train. But we are still soldiers in the sight of Allah and to me this is all that matters. If Allah considers me a soldier then I am a soldier.""I understand that some people might not recognise this because we do not wear fatigues and we do not go to the Brecon Beacons to train. But we are still soldiers in the sight of Allah and to me this is all that matters. If Allah considers me a soldier then I am a soldier."
He referred to the incident as "the mission" and said it was part of an "ongoing war". He added: "Basically it's a war between Islam and those militaries that invade Muslim lands. One of them just happens to be the British military and therefore the war continues even to this day."He referred to the incident as "the mission" and said it was part of an "ongoing war". He added: "Basically it's a war between Islam and those militaries that invade Muslim lands. One of them just happens to be the British military and therefore the war continues even to this day."
He said he "loved" al-Qaida, "because they are my brothers. I've never met them but I love them. I consider them my brothers in Islam".He said he "loved" al-Qaida, "because they are my brothers. I've never met them but I love them. I consider them my brothers in Islam".
Security was tight in court two, with five guards surrounding the witness box while Adebolajo gave evidence, while others sat in the dock next to Adebowale.Security was tight in court two, with five guards surrounding the witness box while Adebolajo gave evidence, while others sat in the dock next to Adebowale.
Adebolajo, who chose to read the affirmation before giving evidence rather than swearing on the Qur'an, referred to himself in court as Mujaahid Abu Hamza, telling Gottlieb he had chosen the name because "the mujahideen is the army of Allah".Adebolajo, who chose to read the affirmation before giving evidence rather than swearing on the Qur'an, referred to himself in court as Mujaahid Abu Hamza, telling Gottlieb he had chosen the name because "the mujahideen is the army of Allah".
At one point Rigby's widow fled the court in tears as the defendant described how the soldier had still been moving after he drove at him with his car.At one point Rigby's widow fled the court in tears as the defendant described how the soldier had still been moving after he drove at him with his car.
Asked about his feelings towards the dead soldier's family, the 28-year-old, dressed in a black zipped top and wearing a silver ring on his right hand, said he had "no animosity or bad feeling towards them, because every soldier has family, and his family love him just like me. My family did not stop loving me the moment I became a soldier, so I don't blame them.Asked about his feelings towards the dead soldier's family, the 28-year-old, dressed in a black zipped top and wearing a silver ring on his right hand, said he had "no animosity or bad feeling towards them, because every soldier has family, and his family love him just like me. My family did not stop loving me the moment I became a soldier, so I don't blame them.
"I killed somebody who they love and who is dear to them. At the same time, people who I love who are dear to me are killed as well. We are not the only ones who feel pain in this country. Muslims feel pain too. We love people too.""I killed somebody who they love and who is dear to them. At the same time, people who I love who are dear to me are killed as well. We are not the only ones who feel pain in this country. Muslims feel pain too. We love people too."
He was "wholeheartedly against" British foreign policy since 1997, he said, at one point blaming Tony Blair for the death of a school friend who had joined the British army and been killed by an IED in the Iraq war.He was "wholeheartedly against" British foreign policy since 1997, he said, at one point blaming Tony Blair for the death of a school friend who had joined the British army and been killed by an IED in the Iraq war.
He had formed his views from a number of sources ranging from the Qu'ran and the internet to Prime Minister's questions and the Sunday Politics programme on BBC1, he said. He had also read a wide selection of newspapers although "I disagreed with most of what they said."He had formed his views from a number of sources ranging from the Qu'ran and the internet to Prime Minister's questions and the Sunday Politics programme on BBC1, he said. He had also read a wide selection of newspapers although "I disagreed with most of what they said."
Adebolajo, who told the court he was married and had six children, mumbled frequently during his evidence and had to be told to speak directly into his microphone, but nodded when Gottlieb led him through the procedures of the court.Adebolajo, who told the court he was married and had six children, mumbled frequently during his evidence and had to be told to speak directly into his microphone, but nodded when Gottlieb led him through the procedures of the court.
When told not to speak when Mr Justice Sweeney, referred to by the barrister as "his lordship", was speaking, he said: "I agree. I don't believe he is a lord, but I agree."When told not to speak when Mr Justice Sweeney, referred to by the barrister as "his lordship", was speaking, he said: "I agree. I don't believe he is a lord, but I agree."
The barrister, who had warned the defendant he would be stopped if he tried to embark on political speeches, interrupted his answers a number of times. "I'm going off a bit, forgive me," Adebolajo said at one point.The barrister, who had warned the defendant he would be stopped if he tried to embark on political speeches, interrupted his answers a number of times. "I'm going off a bit, forgive me," Adebolajo said at one point.
When cross-examined by prosecution barrister Richard Whittam QC, however, the defendant became more confrontational, grabbing the microphone as he spoke and accusing the prosecutor of "histrionics" in his questioning. He refused to answer a number of questions about the planning of the attack, saying: "I remain a soldier of Allah."When cross-examined by prosecution barrister Richard Whittam QC, however, the defendant became more confrontational, grabbing the microphone as he spoke and accusing the prosecutor of "histrionics" in his questioning. He refused to answer a number of questions about the planning of the attack, saying: "I remain a soldier of Allah."
The jury would be entitled to draw an inference from his silence, Whittam said, to which Adebolajo replied: "I believe that the jury are more fair than yourself."The jury would be entitled to draw an inference from his silence, Whittam said, to which Adebolajo replied: "I believe that the jury are more fair than yourself."
"You agreed that you killed Lee Rigby and you tried to decapitate him?" asked Whittam. "Yes," said Adebolajo."You agreed that you killed Lee Rigby and you tried to decapitate him?" asked Whittam. "Yes," said Adebolajo.
But he denied he attempted to murder police officers when they arrived at the scene, saying he ran towards the vehicle because in Islam it is a "major sin to turn your back on the enemy soldier".But he denied he attempted to murder police officers when they arrived at the scene, saying he ran towards the vehicle because in Islam it is a "major sin to turn your back on the enemy soldier".
He told jurors he and Adebowale had wanted to "achieve shahada" – become martyrs – and the pair had argued over who would hold their sole pistol when police arrived, since the person with the gun would be more likely to be killed.He told jurors he and Adebowale had wanted to "achieve shahada" – become martyrs – and the pair had argued over who would hold their sole pistol when police arrived, since the person with the gun would be more likely to be killed.
"I want my brother to obtain shahada and I want shahada for myself. This was why we argued over who would have the gun … We argued a little bit and he won the argument because I love him.""I want my brother to obtain shahada and I want shahada for myself. This was why we argued over who would have the gun … We argued a little bit and he won the argument because I love him."
Asked by his own barrister what he believed should happen to him after the trial, whether found guilty or innocent, Adebolajo said: "As an enemy soldier I believe either I should be ransomed to my mujahideen brothers … or I should be set free or I should be killed."Asked by his own barrister what he believed should happen to him after the trial, whether found guilty or innocent, Adebolajo said: "As an enemy soldier I believe either I should be ransomed to my mujahideen brothers … or I should be set free or I should be killed."
"Killed by whom?", asked Gottlieb. "I don't know how it typically works, but from what I have read from previous wars, maybe the military, maybe a court," Adebolajo said."Killed by whom?", asked Gottlieb. "I don't know how it typically works, but from what I have read from previous wars, maybe the military, maybe a court," Adebolajo said.
He was asked why, in the moments after the killing, he had assured horrified witnesses to the attack they were not in danger.He was asked why, in the moments after the killing, he had assured horrified witnesses to the attack they were not in danger.
"Because at the best of times people can be afraid of black men," he said, and in addition to these "unfortunate stereotypes", there was "the fact that I had blood on my hands and face, that I had bloodied weapons"."Because at the best of times people can be afraid of black men," he said, and in addition to these "unfortunate stereotypes", there was "the fact that I had blood on my hands and face, that I had bloodied weapons".
He paid tribute to the firearms officers who performed first aid after wounding and disarming the two men, saying: "You can have nothing but admiration for somebody who has the kindness to attempt to preserve the lives of two men who on the surface … must have thought I was going to kill them."He paid tribute to the firearms officers who performed first aid after wounding and disarming the two men, saying: "You can have nothing but admiration for somebody who has the kindness to attempt to preserve the lives of two men who on the surface … must have thought I was going to kill them."
As for the medical team that had treated his injuries, Adebolajo said his time at Kings College hospital had led him to conclude that "[in] this country … perhaps we have the best nurses on the planet. They were so kind. I told my family that anyone who heard of these people … should bring them chocolates and flowers."As for the medical team that had treated his injuries, Adebolajo said his time at Kings College hospital had led him to conclude that "[in] this country … perhaps we have the best nurses on the planet. They were so kind. I told my family that anyone who heard of these people … should bring them chocolates and flowers."
The trial continues.The trial continues.
• This article was amended on 10 December 2013. It used the wrong defendant's name when referring to Adebolajo's admission to killing Lee Rigby. This has been corrected.
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