2nd suspect charged in hacking of soldier

LONDON -- British police charged a second suspect Saturday with the murder of a soldier who was hacked to death in a London street, as right-wing and anti-fascist groups both demonstrated in response to a slaying that has heightened religious tensions in Britain.

The Metropolitan Police said Michael Adebolajo, 28, was charged with the murder of Lee Rigby. Adebolajo also is accused of attempting to murder two police officers, and possession of a firearm.

Adebolajo was released from a hospital Friday and taken to a police station after treatment for injuries suffered when he was shot by police in the May 22 attack near an army barracks.

Another man, Michael Adebowale, 22, also has been charged with murdering Rigby, who died of "multiple incised wounds," according to a post-mortem.

The two men were recorded in photographs and on video after the attack on the soldier, bloodied and appearing to espouse Islamic extremism.

Police, politicians and activists have reported a rise in anti-Muslim incidents since Rigby's slaying. But demonstrations by right-wing groups yesterday drew low numbers.

In London, police kept about 150 British National Party supporters carrying anti-Islam placards apart from a larger group of anti-racist demonstrators outside Parliament after the two sides traded insults and occasional blows. Police said 58 anti-fascist protesters were arrested after refusing to move to let the other group pass.