Killer Michael Adebolajo, who was caught on camera waving a bloody meat cleaver shortly after the death of soldier Lee Rigby, has been linked to an infamous radical Muslim cleric who had reportedly been engaged in recruiting and funding potential extremists.

Adebolajo remains in hospital under guard after both suspects involved were shot by armed police following Rigby’s death. Details emerged on Tuesday surrounding Adebolajo’s links to a radical Muslim cleric named Aboud Rogo Mohammed.

The two frequently mixed, according to a senior Kenyan police official, and Rogo had aided Adebolajo in his attempts to enter Somalia to engage in warfare against the Somali government, reported Associated Press.

Rogo, from Kenya, had been as Islamic cleric, sanctioned by the United States for his involvement in a terrorist cell. He was killed in August 2012 after being shot, sparking some protests in Mombassa, his final resting place.

He stood accused of possession of firearms and detonators before his death in 2012 and faced charges of belonging to al-Shabaab (a Somalia-based cell of Al Qaeda,) and arranging its funding, while being credited with being a powerful orator for its cause.

The assistance Adebolajo had been getting from Rogo allegedly led to him joining up with the Somalia-based Al Qaeda linked group. Al-Shabab camps have been known for nurturing dozens of bombers who have launched terrorist assaults both within and outside Somalia.

Adebolajo was arrested with five other young men in November 2010 near the Kenya-Somalia border and eventually returned to Britain, said police.

Michael Adebowale, 22, was injured after he and his alleged co-accomplice Michael Adebolajo were shot by officers at the scene of last Wednesday’s attack.

Adebolajo, 28, remains in hospital under armed guard.

His relatives have released a statement sending their “heartfelt condolence” to the soldier’s family, and saying there is no place for violence in the name of religion.

The Adebolajo family said: “Nothing we can say can undo the events of last week.

“However, as a family, we wish to share with others our horror at the senseless killing of Lee Rigby, and express our profound shame and distress that this has brought to our family.

“We send our heartfelt condolence to Lee Rigby’s family and loved ones.”

Drummer Rigby, 25, was hacked to death in broad daylight near Woolwich barracks and Adebowale and Adebolajo, who were both known to MI5, were arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Adebowale was also arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer.

Adebolajo was detained by Kenyan authorities three years ago because they feared he was attempting to join an al Qaeda-linked militant group, the country’s anti-terrorism police said.

So far, 10 people have been held by detectives investigating the young soldier’s death, including a 50-year-old man, arrested on Monday, who was released on bail on Tuesday.

A 22-year-old man arrested in Highbury, north London, on Sunday and three men detained on Saturday over the killing have all been released on bail, as has a fifth man, aged 29.

Two women, aged 29 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but later released without charge.

The murder sparked a flurry of activity by the English Defence League (EDL), including a march of 1,000 supporters to Downing Street on Monday chanting “Muslim killers off our streets” and “There’s only one Lee Rigby”.

Four men have since been charged with various offences.

A massive police presence kept EDL supporters separate from a smaller group of anti-fascist activists, with officers making 13 arrests in total for a range of public order offences.

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