Murder of Lee Rigby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Murder of Lee Rigby
Tribute to Lee Rigby, Manchester Day Parade, 2 June 2013
Location	Woolwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, London, England
Coordinates	51°29′18″N 0°03′43″E / 51.488231°N 0.062034°E / 51.488231; 0.062034
Date	22 May 2013 (2013-05-22) 14:20 BST (UTC+01:00)
Attack type	Vehicle-ramming attack, attempted decapitation, Islamic terrorism
Weapons	Car, cleaver, knife, and revolver
Non-fatal injuries	2 (the perpetrators)
Victim	Lee Rigby
Perpetrators	Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale
Motive	Retaliation for British military presence in Islamic countries

On May 22, 2013, a soldier named Lee Rigby was attacked and killed in Woolwich, southeast London. He was a Fusilier in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Two men, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, carried out the attack.

Lee Rigby was off duty and walking on Wellington Street when he was hit by a car driven by the attackers. They then used knives to attack him. The men stayed at the scene until police arrived. They told people nearby that they had killed Rigby to get revenge for Muslims killed by the British military.

Unarmed police arrived nine minutes after an emergency call. Armed police came five minutes later. The attackers, holding a cleaver and a gun, charged at the police. Police shot and wounded both men. They were then arrested and taken to hospitals. Adebolajo and Adebowale were British men of Nigerian background. They were raised as Christians but later converted to Islam.

On December 19, 2013, both attackers were found guilty of Rigby's murder. On February 26, 2014, they were sentenced to prison for life. The attack was strongly condemned by leaders in the UK and around the world.

Understanding the Lee Rigby Attack

Who Was Lee Rigby?

Fusilier Rigby of the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2011

The soldier killed was 25-year-old Lee James Rigby. He was a drummer and machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Lee Rigby was from Middleton, Greater Manchester.

He was born in 1987 and had served in places like Cyprus, Germany, and Afghanistan. Before his death, he worked as a recruiter and helped with duties at the Tower of London. He was attacked while returning to his barracks from work at the Tower.

Lee Rigby was married in 2007 and had a two-year-old son. He had separated from his wife and was engaged to a new fiancée. A medical examination showed he died from "multiple cuts."

Lee Rigby supported a charity called Help for Heroes, which helps British Armed Forces members. He was wearing a hoodie supporting this charity when he was attacked. In the five days after his death, the charity received over £600,000 in donations.

Lee Rigby had a military funeral at Bury Parish Church on July 12, 2013. Thousands of people attended, including soldiers, the prime minister David Cameron, and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson. A private burial was held nearby. The first permanent memorial to him was placed in February 2014 at The Valley, a football stadium close to where he was killed.

How the Attack Happened

Location of the attack, shown by the arrow, outside the Royal Artillery Barracks

The attack happened just before 2:20 PM on Wellington Street in Woolwich. This area is near the Royal Artillery Barracks, where Lee Rigby was based. Rigby had arrived at Woolwich Arsenal station at 2:10 PM and was walking towards the Barracks.

While Rigby was crossing the road, two men, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, drove a car at him. They hit him, knocking him to the ground. They then attacked him with knives and a cleaver.

Right after the attack, several people nearby tried to protect Rigby's body. Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, a cub scout leader, got off a bus to help. She thought it was a road accident. When she realized the victim was dead, she spoke to one of the attackers. The man said he killed the soldier because the soldier had "killed Muslims in Iraq and in Afghanistan." She asked him to give her his weapons, but he refused.

In a video taken by someone watching, Adebolajo said, "The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers." The attackers stayed at the scene and asked people to call the police. The Metropolitan Police received the first emergency call at 2:20 PM. Unarmed police arrived at 2:29 PM and set up a safety area.

Armed police officers arrived at 2:34 PM. The two men, one with a cleaver and the other with a gun, ran towards the police. The armed police fired eight shots, wounding both men. They were arrested and taken to separate hospitals. A gun, knives, and a cleaver were found at the scene. Lee Rigby was confirmed dead. The gun was later found to be a non-working old gun.

The Attackers and Other Suspects

The two men who carried out the attack were Michael Olumide Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale, 22. Both were British and of Nigerian heritage. British security services already knew about both men.

After the attack, several other people were arrested on suspicion of being involved. These arrests happened in different parts of London. Some were released on bail, and others were released without charges.

Michael Adebolajo's Background

Michael Olumide Adebolajo was born in Lambeth to a Christian family. He later converted to Islam in 2003. He was known to be involved in radical Islamist activities. He had been arrested before at a protest. He was linked to a banned Islamist group called al-Muhajiroun.

In 2010, Adebolajo was arrested in Kenya. Authorities believed he was planning to train with al-Shabaab, a militant group. He was sent back to British authorities in Kenya but no charges were filed against him.

A friend of Adebolajo, Abu Nusaybah, said on TV that Adebolajo had complained about being questioned by the British Security Service (MI5). Adebolajo claimed MI5 had asked him to work with them, but he refused.

Adebolajo was released from the hospital on May 31 and taken into police custody. The next day, he was charged with Rigby's murder, trying to murder police officers, and having a firearm. In court, he asked to be called Mujahid Abu Hamza.

Michael Adebowale's Background

Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale also studied at the University of Greenwich with Michael Adebolajo. His mother was a probation officer. His parents separated when he was young. He converted to Islam in 2009 and took the name Ismael.

On May 28, Adebowale was released from the hospital and taken to a police station. Police charged him with the murder of Rigby and having a firearm.

The Investigation and Legal Process

Investigators searched several houses in London and one in Lincolnshire. The Intelligence and Security Committee looked into how intelligence agencies handled information about the attackers. The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated the police's use of firearms. They concluded that the officers "acted entirely appropriately."

Senior government officials, including Prime Minister David Cameron, held meetings to discuss the attack. Cameron said that the country needed to understand why young men born in Britain become radicalized.

The trial for Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale began on November 29, 2013. Both men pleaded not guilty to the murder. On December 19, 2013, they were found guilty of Lee Rigby's murder.

On February 26, 2014, both men were sentenced to life imprisonment. Adebolajo received a "whole life order," meaning he would never be released. Adebowale was ordered to serve at least 45 years in prison. During the sentencing, the judge said the attackers' extreme views were a "betrayal of Islam." The attackers reacted loudly and were removed from the courtroom.

Both men tried to appeal their sentences, but their requests were rejected.

After the Attack

The site of the attack in Wellington Street, with floral tributes and flags, 30 May 2013

The Ministry of Defence investigated the incident. After the attack, British service members were advised not to wear military uniforms in public for a short time.

Many Muslim leaders strongly condemned the attack. They said it had no basis in Islam. The Muslim Council of Britain and other Muslim organizations spoke out against the violence. However, some radical figures refused to condemn the attack, blaming British foreign policy instead.

There was also a rise in anti-Muslim incidents across the UK. Groups like Hope not Hate and Tell MAMA reported many cases of hate speech and attacks on mosques. These incidents included verbal abuse, physical assaults, and graffiti. Several mosques were attacked with fire or vandalism. Police reported a large increase in anti-Muslim incidents after Rigby's death.

The UK government created a task force to fight Islamic extremism in Britain. This group, led by David Cameron, looked at how people become radicalized in mosques, universities, and prisons.

A parliamentary inquiry in 2014 found that Lee Rigby's death could not have been prevented. However, it noted that his killers had appeared in several intelligence investigations. One attacker, Michael Adebowale, had discussed killing a soldier on Facebook before the attack. British authorities did not see this conversation until after the murder.

In 2018, Michael Adebolajo, one of the murderers, reportedly said he regretted his actions. He apologized and claimed he had "misinterpreted" the Quran. Lee Rigby's mother, Lyn Rigby, said she would never forgive him.

Attempted Copycat Cases

The murder of Lee Rigby inspired some other individuals to plan similar attacks.

• In 2015, Brusthom Ziamani was found guilty of planning a terrorist act. He was arrested with a knife and hammer and had said he wanted to attack soldiers. He called Adebolajo a "legend."
• Kazi Islam was also convicted in 2015 for trying to get a friend to kill soldiers.
• Zack Davies, a white supremacist, attacked a dentist with a machete in 2015. He claimed it was revenge for Rigby's murder.

Memorials

The murder site in 2015

Memorial in St George's Garrison Church, Woolwich

On September 1, 2014, Lee Rigby was honored at the Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire. His name was added to the memorial.

A memorial to Rigby was unveiled in his hometown of Middleton, Greater Manchester, on March 29, 2015. It includes a bronze drum and a plaque.

Plans for a memorial in Woolwich faced some challenges. Some worried it might attract extremists or vandals. However, after a campaign and a petition, a memorial was announced. It was revealed on November 11, 2015. Lee Rigby's name is on a plaque inside the ruined St George's Garrison Church in Woolwich. This memorial also lists other service members who died.

On February 29, 2020, a memorial to Rigby was unveiled at Millwall F.C.'s stadium, The New Den. Fans of the club raised money for the plaque.

Legacy and Foundation

Lee Rigby's parents, Lyn and Ian Rigby, started the Lee Rigby Foundation after his murder. This organization helps military families who have lost loved ones. It provides support and offers holiday breaks in static caravans. Lee Rigby House in Staffordshire was also set up for this purpose.

See also