One of the men accused of murdering Lee Rigby has said in court for the first time that he killed the fusilier, telling the jury that he was “obeying the command of Allah”.
Michael Adebolajo described himself as a “soldier of Allah” and said he killed Rigby on 22 May outside Woolwich military barracks in south London.
Asked by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC whether he planned to kill Rigby on that date, Adebolajo answered: “Yes.”
Giving evidence from the witness box of the Old Bailey, Adebolajo said: “I am a soldier of Allah and as I’ve explained part of fighting jihad sometimes it tells killing the enemy soldier.”
He added: “As I said we planned a military attack which obviously involved – sadly, it’s not something enjoyable – the death of a soldier.”
When asked whether the killing was political, he told the jury: “Jihad by its very nature is political.”
Giving evidence from a witness box in front of the soldier’s family, Adebolajo told the jury he was “a soldier of Allah” and that he had had “no choice” in attacking Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in May this year.
“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. This is all I can do.”
Amid strict security, Adebolajo, wearing a black zipped top, was handcuffed when being taken to the witness box, and surrounded by five security guards while giving evidence, while plainclothes police officers wearing wires sat elsewhere in the court.
His co-accused, Michael Adebowale, watched from the dock, also surrounded by prison guards.