LONDON — An al-Qaida-inspired extremist has been sentenced to life without parole for the murder of an off-duty British soldier who was hacked to death in a frenzied attack on a London street in front of horrified passers-by.

Self-described "soldier of Allah" Michael Adebolajo, 29, was sentenced Wednesday. His accomplice, 22-year-old Michael Adebowale, was sentenced to a minimum of 45 years in prison.

The pair was convicted in December of murdering 25-year-old Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was struck by a car and then repeatedly stabbed with knives and a cleaver.