London attack suspects Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale appear in court

GlobalPost

One of the men accused of hacking to death a British soldier in London last month attended court for the first time on Monday, while his co-accused appeared via videolink from prison.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, held up a Koran as he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with murdering soldier Lee Rigby on May 22.

Adebolajo spent nine days in hospital after being shot by police in the aftermath of Rigby's brutal murder in Woolwich, southeast London.

He was discharged on Friday. Counter-terrorism police charged him over the weekend with Rigby's murder as well as the attempted murder of two police officers and possession of a firearm — according to London24, a 9.4mm KNIL Model 91 revolver.

Adebolajo, who asked to be referred to as Mujaahid Abu Hamza, reportedly blew a kiss to a man in the public gallery of the court, and they both pointed to the sky.

Asked to stand at the end of the short hearing, Adebolajo said: "May I ask why? May I ask why?" When told it is customary to stand, he said: "I want to sit."

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey within 48 hours.

Co-accused Adebowale, 22, who appeared at the same court last week, appeared today at the Old Bailey via video-link and made no application for bail.

Both men are Muslim converts of Nigerian descent, and the murder is being investigated by counter-terrorism officers.

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