MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI) - Two men pleaded not guilty Friday to having murdered British soldier Lee Rigby, Reuters reported Friday.

Rigby was killed as he was returning to Woolwich barracks in southeast London. The police detained two suspects, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, at the crime scene almost immediately. They were telling passersby that they had killed Rigby because of their religion.

Local news station ITV aired footage depicting one of the attackers, still wielding a meat cleaver, his hands drenched in blood, as he bellowed into the camera: "You people will never be safe."

The two suspects, who resisted arrest, were shot by officers and taken to hospital.

Reuters reported Friday that Aderbolajo and Adebowale, who used their Islamic names Mujahid Abu Hamza and Ismail Ibn Abdullah respectively, pleaded not guilty to Rigby’s murder, conspiracy to murder a police officer, and attempted murder of a police officer, and that the two are set to stand trial on November 18.

British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a statement shortly after the attack vowing that there would be a comprehensive effort by relevant police and security agencies to collect all available information on what he dubbed a "sickening and barbaric attack."

Likewise, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe announced in the attack’s aftermath that a murder investigation had been launched under the guidance of the Counter Terrorism Command. He added: "It is hard to comprehend the shocking and horrific scenes we have seen this afternoon on a busy street as Londoners went about their day as normal."