Zee Media Bureau
London: Michael Adebowale, the accused in Woolwich murder, was reportedly approached by MI5 months six months before the killing with a proposal to work for the security service, a childhood friend had claimed.
Adebolajo’s reportedly rejected the offer, his friend Abu Nusaybah said. However, no confirmation could be made, as per a BBC news report.
MI5 now faces a House of Commons inquiry after it was confirmed the two terror suspects arrested over his murder were known to the national security agency, as per a news agency report.
But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said it was impossible to control everyone all the time.
Drummer Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old soldier from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was hacked to death by the two Islamist extremists near Woolwich barracks on Wednesday.
Both Londoners of Nigerian descent were caught on camera-phones and have been identified as 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo and 22-year-old Michael Adebowale.
Both suspects, shot by police shortly after the incident, remain in separate hospitals and are too badly injured to be questioned at present.
Police have deployed 1,200 extra officers amid fears of a backlash in London and dozens of Islamophobic incidents were reported in the wake of the murder, including attacks on four mosques.
(With Agency Inputs)
