Anjem Choudary, the former leader of banned radical group al-Muhajiroun, said Adebolajo regularly attended meetings and demonstrations held by his group and successor organisations.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, a hate preacher banned from Britain, claimed he had converted Adebolajo himself.
The disclosure of his close association with some of Britain’s most notorious Islamic extremists is likely to raise further questions about why he was not deemed a serious threat by the security services.
The second attacker has not been identified but investigators are examining whether he had a criminal past.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission will carry out an investigation into Scotland Yard’s actions.
Drummer Rigby, of 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was run over and attacked with knives and cleavers as he walked back to barracks in Woolwich, south-east London on Wednesday afternoon. Known as “Riggers”, he was praised by his colleagues as a “true warrior” who had served in Afghanistan, Cyprus and Germany, and by his family as a loving father to his son, Jack.
[SUP]The wedding of murdered Woolwich soldier Lee James Rigby to Rebecca Metcalfe in October 2007[/SUP]
His family said: “Lee was lovely. He would do anything for anybody, he always looked after his sisters and always protected them. His family meant everything to him. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle and a friend to many. He took a 'big brother’ role with everyone. All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy, was be in the Army.”
WO1 Ned Miller, the Regimental Sergeant Major, said: “Riggers was one of the battalion’s great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow fusiliers.”
Speaking outside No
Omar Bakri Mohammed, a hate preacher banned from Britain, claimed he had converted Adebolajo himself.
The disclosure of his close association with some of Britain’s most notorious Islamic extremists is likely to raise further questions about why he was not deemed a serious threat by the security services.
The second attacker has not been identified but investigators are examining whether he had a criminal past.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission will carry out an investigation into Scotland Yard’s actions.
Drummer Rigby, of 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was run over and attacked with knives and cleavers as he walked back to barracks in Woolwich, south-east London on Wednesday afternoon. Known as “Riggers”, he was praised by his colleagues as a “true warrior” who had served in Afghanistan, Cyprus and Germany, and by his family as a loving father to his son, Jack.
[SUP]The wedding of murdered Woolwich soldier Lee James Rigby to Rebecca Metcalfe in October 2007[/SUP]
His family said: “Lee was lovely. He would do anything for anybody, he always looked after his sisters and always protected them. His family meant everything to him. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle and a friend to many. He took a 'big brother’ role with everyone. All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy, was be in the Army.”
WO1 Ned Miller, the Regimental Sergeant Major, said: “Riggers was one of the battalion’s great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow fusiliers.”
Speaking outside No