Angelic schoolboy who turned into a reviled executioner
HAPPILY posing for a class portrait with fellow church school pupils, Mohammed Emwazi is the image of angelic youth. Yesterday, he was unmasked as one of the world’s most reviled killers. As Jihadi John, the knife-wielding Islamic State fanatic has orchestrated at least six hostage murders in Syria.
The identification of the 26-year-old, who grew up in London, has put the spotlight on the UK security services who have had him on their radar for at least five years. Yet he was able to slip out of Britain to launch his reign of terror in the Middle East. Born in Kuwait, he moved to
London with his family aged six and later graduated in computer programming at the University of Westminster.
As long ago as 2007, Emwazi was linked to a West London offshoot of the Al Qaedainspired Al Shabab terror group in East Africa.
Two members of that group were later to die in US drone strikes in Somalia, another vanished in a black cab despite being on a government control order and Emwazi was himself detained at the request of the British after travelling to East Africa.
He claimed he was then questioned in the Netherlands and the UK by MI5, who are said at one time to have tried to ‘turn him’ in to becoming a source.
Emwazi’s case has strong similarities with that of Michael Adebolajo, one of the killers of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. MI5 tried to recruit him but then allowed him to operate without monitoring.
And there were allegations last night that, as with Adebolajo, Emwazi’s targeting by MI5 may have helped radicalise him and lead him to seek revenge.
In a further embarrassment for the Government and the security services, his name was discovered by investigators at the Washington Post and the BBC. The security services identified him six months ago. In other Jihadi John case developments:
The daughter of Scottish victim David Haines, from Perth, said the family’s ordeal will be eased only ‘once there’s a bullet between his eyes’;
There were fears Emwazi’s exposure could trigger a backlash against IS hostages including UK journalist John Cantlie;
MI5 chiefs face being called to give evidence to the Intelligence and Security Committee to explain their dealings with Emwazi;
His parents were said to be in shock and not convinced their son is a killer;
Human rights activist Asim Qureshi described Emwazi as ‘a beautiful young man’ and blamed the security services for his crimes;
It emerged that Emwazi had faced a string of charges linked to theft and petty crimes.
‘Bullet between his eyes’