Police briefing reveals Adebolajo and Adebowale were previously known to police . She said the two men `` were in different parts of London , with different people , exposed to a variety of extremists . '' The pair had been arrested in May 2010 after being found with a machete at the home of their friend Mohammed Rehman - who was later convicted for his part in an attack on soldiers outside Woolwich barracks Both men converted to Islam after growing up in Christian Nigerian families . Adebolajo said he was disgusted by UK foreign policy before he converted to Islam .
Police briefing reveals Adebolajo and Adebowale were previously known to police . The pair had been arrested in May 2010 after being found with a machete at the home of their friend Mohammed Rehman - who was later convicted for his part in an attack on soldiers outside Woolwich barracks Both men converted to Islam after growing up in Christian Nigerian families . Adebolajo said he was disgusted by UK foreign policy before he converted to Islam .