Michael Adebolajo denies murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby saying he is 'a soldier of Allah'
Michael Adebolajo, who is accused of murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, has begun giving evidence at the Old Bailey.
Adebolajo did not deny killing Fusilier Rigby, but denied murder, saying he was, "a soldier of Allah."
ITV News UK Editor Lucy Manning's report contains details of the killing that some viewers may find distressing:
When asked what his defence to the charge of murder is, Michael Adebolajo said:
Adebolajo went on to say that does not regret what happened to Fusilier Rigby:
Asked who al Qaida were by his counsel, David Gottlieb, Adebolajo replied: "Al Qaida, I consider to be Mujahideen. I love them, they're my brothers. I have never met them. I consider them my brothers in Islam."
Michael Adebolajo was surrounded by five security guards as he appeared at the Old Bailey.
He and Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of murdering Fusilier Rigby by running him down with a car and then hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on 22nd May.
The soldier's relatives sat feet away as Adebolajo, a married father-of-six, spoke to the court.
He said that, growing up in Romford, the "vast majority" of his friends were white British, and one, Kirk Redpath, joined the Army and was later killed in Iraq.
Adebolajo said: "I hold Tony Blair responsible for his death."
In cross-examination, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC asked defendant Michael Adebolajo: "You and your co-defendant, acting together, killed Lee Rigby, didn't you?"
He replied: "Yes."
The barrister asked: "That's because together you had agreed to kill someone. Do you agree?"
Again, he replied: "Yes."
Adebolajo went on: "We planned a military attack which obviously involved, sadly - it's not something enjoyable, something fantastic - the death of a soldier. It's a military attack."
As well as murder, Adebolajo and Adebowale are both accused of attempted murder of a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer, which they deny.
The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.