Bloodied ... Adebolajo at scene of the killing in Woolwich last week
THE SUN / NI SYNDICATION
THE family of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo last night “wholeheartedly condemned” the horrific butchering of soldier Lee Rigby.
They revealed their “profound shame and distress” over the killing last week that shocked Britain.
And they sent “heartfelt condolence” to the soldier’s loved ones, adding: “We pray for Lee Rigby’s soul to rest in peace”.
Their message came as cops began quizzing Adebolajo’s accomplice Michael Adebowale after doctors allowed him to leave hospital.
The statement, released by lawyers on behalf of Adebolajo’s mother Tana and other relatives, said: “Nothing we say can undo the events of last week.
For our comrade ... colleagues from Woolwich Barracks lay wreath at spot where soldier Lee died
“However, as a family, we wish to share with others our horror at the senseless killing of Lee Rigby and express our profound shame and distress that this has brought on our family.
“We send our heartfelt condolence to Lee Rigby’s family and loved ones.
“We wish to state openly that we believe that there is no place for violence in the name of religion or politics.
“We believe all right-thinking members of society share this view wherever they were born and whatever their religion and political beliefs.
“We wholeheartedly condemn all those who engage in acts of terror and fully reject any suggestion by them that religion or politics can justify this kind of violence.
“We unreservedly put our faith in the rule of law and with others fully expect that all the perpetrators will be brought to justice under the law of the land.
“And we pray for Lee Rigby’s soul to rest in peace, for the Lord to comfort his parents and loved ones and provide all of us affected the strength and fortitude to cope with this tragedy.”
Victim ... Lee Rigby
Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, were shot by cops after Lee, 25, was killed last Wednesday in Woolwich, South East London.
Adebowale was moved to a South London police station yesterday afternoon. Cops said they had also arrested him over the attempted murder of a police officer. Detectives were last night consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service over the case. They have a potential total of 96 hours for questioning.
Adebolajo was born in Britain to churchgoing Nigerian immigrants Tana and Anthony, both 56. He was raised a Catholic along with brother Jeremiah, 26, and their two sisters in Romford, Essex.
But shortly after his 16th birthday he began studying radical Islam.
Last night an unnamed brother-in-law said Adebolajo was approached by secret services to become a spy while in Kenya. He told ITV News Adebolajo was tortured there — but the British Government refused to help.
He added: “The Kenyans were saying they were going to kill him, behead him. We had clear proof that he was being tortured... violently and sexually.
“I would say he’s always been different since then.
“He was a lot quieter and quite bitter towards the fact that he wasn’t getting any help from anyone.”
Soldiers from Woolwich Barracks yesterday laid a wreath of poppies at the spot where Drummer Rigby was killed.
Meanwhile a mum who lost her serviceman son told how Lee helped her family through their darkest hour.
Ann Annis said Lee was a friend of her son Simon — who was killed aged 22 in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan four years ago. After Simon’s death, Lee and fellow drummers led a 15-mile charity walk in his memory.
Ann said: “We are all thinking about his family now.”
Monumental effort
Clean-up ... workman tackles memorial graffiti yesterday
By MATT WILKINSON
BOMBER Command chiefs have thanked Sun readers after receiving £40,000 IN A DAY to repair its defaced monument.
War veterans were disgusted that vandals spray-painted graffiti on the new £7million memorial in Green Park, central London.
The word “Islam” was scrawled in two-foot high red capital letters on the monument — built to remember the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen killed fighting the Nazis.
Identical graffiti was also sprayed on the £2million Animals In War memorial in nearby Park Lane. No arrests have been made. Both clean-ups — which began yesterday — will cost thousands and take days.
But donations mean the Bomber Command Memorial Fund has enough cash to maintain their monument for a year.
Director of fundraising Jim Dooley, 65, said: “I really want to thank The Sun readers for their amazing generosity.” Fundraisers need £1.5million to maintain it for good.
- TO donate money to the Bomber Command Memorial Fund call 0800 198 2400.
Firebomb: 2 in court
TWO men were remanded in custody yesterday over the petrol-bombing of a mosque.
Stuart Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, were arrested after the attack on Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre on Sunday.
They will appear before the town’s Crown Court on June 7.
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