London: A man accused of killing an off-duty British soldier in a frenzied knife attack on a London street defended his actions in court Monday, saying he carried out the attack because he is a soldier fighting in the service of God.
Michael Adebolajo, 28, said that he attacked soldier Lee Rigby because he wanted to protest Britain's invasion of Muslim lands.
He claimed to be one of many fighters engaged in a war between Islam and Western countries.
“I'm a soldier ... I couldn't do anything else,” he said when asked whether he had any regrets.
Adebolajo spoke calmly and clearly as he was cross-examined at London's Central Criminal Court on Monday, telling jurors that while he had never met anyone from al-Qaida, he was full of admiration for the terrorist group.
“I love them. I consider them brothers in Islam,” he said.
Adebolajo and fellow defendant Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of murder in connection with Rigby's death, a brutal slaying that shocked the country.
