LONDON: British counterterrorism police charged a second man yesterday with the May 22 murder of Lee Rigby, a serving soldier, on a London street.
Michael Adebolajo, 28, was also charged with the attempted murder of two police officers and with possession of a firearm, a 9.4 mm revolver, with intent to cause others to believe that violence would be used.
Adebolajo was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, police said in a statement.
Michael Adebowale, 22, appeared at the same court on Thursday charged with Rigby’s murder and possession of a firearm. He was remanded in custody to appear at London’s Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, for a bail hearing tomorrow.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled at the Old Bailey for June 28.
Both men were shot by police at the scene of Rigby’s killing, a street in the southeast London neighbourhood of Woolwich.
Earlier yesterday, police prevented about 150 protesters from the far-right British National Party (BNP) from marching towards a much larger anti-fascist counter-demonstration near the Houses of Parliament in London.
Police arrested 58 protesters from the anti-fascist camp for refusing to remain within their designated penned area.
The rival BNP and anti-fascist protesters traded chants, held behind opposing metal barricades with police separating them.
The BNP had hoped to march in Woolwich but were banned from doing so by the police, fearing public disorder.
Many of their protesters carried the British flag and some had signs saying “Hate preachers out”.
UAF demonstrators held up banners reading “Say no to Islamophobia”.
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