Accused killer of British serviceman says victim was 'the soldier that was spotted first'

In this photo made from CCTV and released by the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale speak to a member of the public near to the Woolwich Barracks in London in May 2013. The footage was shown in court during the trial of Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, who stand accused of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. Rigby of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was attacked and killed by two men near the barracks. Two men ran him down with a car, then used knives and a cleaver to stab and hack him to death. (AP Photo / Metropolitan Police) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (The Associated Press)

LONDON – A man accused of murdering a British soldier on a London street says he attacked the first serviceman he spotted, saying "it was almost as if Allah had chosen him."

Michael Adebolajo told police that he and his co-accused decided a soldier was a fair target "because he joins the army with kind of an understanding that your life is at risk."

In a police interview played at his trial Thursday, Adebolajo said Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted because "he was the soldier that was spotted first."

Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale are accused of running Rigby down with a car before hacking him to death near Woolwich Barracks in London in May.

In the interview, Adebolajo described himself as a soldier in a war between Muslims and the British people.