LONDON (AFP) - British police on Wednesday charged with murder one of the two chief suspects in last week's brutal suspected Islamist attack against a British soldier on a London street.

Metropolitan Police confirmed they had charged Michael Adebowale, 22, with the murder of 25-year-old Lee Rigby, who died following the May 22 attack in Woolwich, south-east London.

"Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command have... charged a man with the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich on Wednesday 22 May," said the police statement.

"Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, was charged with the murder of Lee Rigby contrary to common law.

"He was also charged with possession of a firearm," it added.

The suspect has been remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning.

The other suspect, 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo, remains under guard at a London hospital, police added.

Both suspects required hospital treatment after being shot and injured by police at the murder scene last week.