Libya trips turned dope dealer Killer went to college in Islamic dress & argued with any woman in authority

“It was a bit weird, on the one hand he was claiming to be ultrareligious but he was also hanging about with his gang, smoking cannabis and dossing about. He turned into a really unpleasant kid. He was getting more radical but no- one believed he’d do something so evil.”

Abedi, 22, went to the college after leaving Burnage Academy for Boys. He dropped out of Salford University on his second year of a business and management degree.

A Manchester College spokesman said: “We can confirm Salman Abedi studied with us and left in 2013.”

Neighbours said he chanted prayers in the street, while one filmed him putting out a wheelie bin in Fallowfield, Manchester, wearing a brown djellaba with the pointy hood pulled up over his head.

It has also been revealed he was banned from a mosque after accusing an Iman of “talking b******s” when he condemned Islamic State.

A former pal said Abedi viewed himself as a “low-level gangster” who was involved in dope dealing street gangs when younger. He said: “He hung around on the streets and was smoking cannabis. When younger, he wasn’t religious at all.

“The gangs were involved in petty violence, crimes like robberies. Some went to prison but Abedi was never arrested. His little brother was like that as well but his older brother was always religious.”

He said after Abedi visited Libya in 2011, he started becoming more fanatical, adding: “They saw people get killed, horrific things, and had the fresh memories. With their gang mentality, it was just a toxic mixture of violence. That’s what sparked it.”

The source said the killer was “awkward and quiet” and did not have a girlfriend, adding: “He never had a girlfriend, he wasn’t popular. He had a real problem with girls.”

Former neighbour Asif Khal said his street was terrorised by louts including Abedi. Asif, 56, said: “None of them had jobs. They would hang round and ride on mopeds and smoking cannabis all the time. It was hell for people who lived here.”

It emerged yesterday that police believe Abedi used benefits and taxpayer-funded student loans to bankroll his atrocity. It is thought he pocketed £14,000 from the Student Loans Company over two years.

Salford University declined to say if it informed the body that Abedi’s funding should have been stopped. And the Department for Work and