Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale: Difference between revisions

Michael Adebolajo studied sociology at Greenwich university. According to radical cleric [[Anjem Choudary]], he became affiliated with [[Al-Muhajiroun]] after converting to Islam in 2003. Adebolajo has a history of radical Islamic activities, including an arrest during a protest against the trial of fellow Al-Muhajiroun member [[Mizanur Rahman]]. He was also arrested in 2010 after entering Kenya with a false passport. No charges were ever filed, but Boniface Mwaniki from Kenya's anti-terror unit said he believed that Adebolajo was planning to train with the jihadist group [[Al-Shabaab]]. While in custody, Adebolajo claimed that he had been tortured, mutilated and sexually abused by officers, but was most probably not.

Shortly before 14:20 on 22 May 2013 in Wellington Street, southeast London, a British soldier named Lee Rigby was knocked down by a Vauxhall Tigra. Adebowale and Adebolajo then got out of the car and began stabbing Rigby, before Adebolajo tried to behead him with a cleaver. A cub scout leader named Ingrid Loyau-Kennet tried to administer first aid, then engaged Adebolajo in conversation after discovering that Rigby was dead. Adebolajo told her that Rigby had killed Muslims in Iraq. A video taken by a passer-by shows Adebolajo saying that they would continue to fight until the British government pulled their troops out of Afghanistan. Unarmed police officers were dispatched to the scene. Reports that one of the attackers had a gun resulted in armed officers being dispatched and shooting off Adebowale's thumb when he threatened them with a revolver, later deemed to be non-functioning. Adebolajo was also shot at the scene.