The family man who could ‘flip his lid’ when drinking
Picture emerges of alleged attacker who did the school run but was often heard shouting at partner
THE father of four suspected of mowing down a group of worshippers outside a London mosque was a “devoted” family man, but was known for “flipping his lid” when he drank too much, neighbours claimed last night.
Darren Osborne, 47, whose family described him as “complex” and “troubled” was last night being held in custody on suspicion of terror offences including attempted murder.
After his vehicle ploughed into a group of men as they left Ramadan prayers, he is alleged to have rammed his hired van into bollards before jumping out and shouting: “I’m going to kill all Muslims – I did my bit.”
Mobile phone footage taken by onlookers showed him wild-eyed and sweating as he repeatedly shouted “kill me”. But as he left the vehicle, he was chased and pinned to the ground before being dragged along the pavement where his victims’ bodies lay strewn.
When the police eventually arrived, Mr Osborne smiled, waved and blew kisses, apparently taunting witnesses as he was bundled into the back of a van. He was recognised on television by stunned Welsh neighbours more used to seeing him on the school run, who rang the police to identify him.
They later described him as “shouty” and “aggressive” but said they were gobsmacked to learn that he was a ter- ror suspect. Mr Osborne was born in Singapore but raised by his parents John and Christine in Weston-supermare, Somerset, where he attended Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College.
Mrs Osborne, 72, told ITV News: “I’m not going to defend him but you know he’s my son and it’s a terrible, terrible shock. At this moment in time I can’t cope with it, I can’t.” Mrs Osborne broke down as she described her son as a “complex” person but said, “that’s all I can say”. His sister, Nicola Osborne, 50, said her brother had been “troubled for a long time”.
Neighbours described Mrs Osborne as “long-suffering”. One said: “Darren’s not had a bad life. He’s had more options than a lot of people.” Mr Osborne left Weston-super-mare several years ago and moved to a terrace house in Pentwyn, Cardiff, with his partner. The couple have four children, aged between 16 and five.
A complicated picture emerged of his personal life, with neighbours describing him as a “family man” who was heard singing in his kitchen with his children on Sunday afternoon, just hours before he is alleged to have driven to London.
However, others said they believed he and his partner had separated in recent months and that he was often seen shouting at her in the street.
Pharmacist Rebecca Carpenter, 26, said: “He’s quite a shouty person, always shouting at his wife and kids.
“He drove around in an old car that was always damaged. He never caused us any real problems, but we could often hear him shouting from the other side of the street. None of us have ever really spoken to him but we recognised him straight away when we saw him on the telly this morning.”
Another neighbour said: “I actually heard him singing in the street yesterday – weird really. I never knew what he did for a living but [she] is a hard worker.” His partner was described as “a really nice woman” by regulars at the nearby Black Griffin pub.
One said: “She’s a kind and friendly person – her only problem is a bad taste in men. Everyone said she was too good for him.”
Mr Osborne, who was not known to the police or security services, is believed to have driven 15 miles from his home in the Welsh capital to Pontyclun Van Hire on Sunday, hiring an £80-a-night Luton van.
He then drove more than 150 miles to north London throughout the evening, careering on to the pavement in Finsbury Park shortly after midnight.
Owners of the van hire company said they were “shocked and saddened” that one of their vehicles was used in the attack and pledged to help the police with their investigation.
Neighbour Saleem Naema, 50, a taxi driver, said: “I can’t believe it. I know him… If I ever needed anything he would come. I just can’t believe that he did that. I am a Muslim.”
One of his former neighbours in Weston-super-mare, who did not wish to be named, said: “We all know Darren, from our youth generally.
“He would just drink too much and flip the switch I guess.”
Other former drinking partners of Osborne described him as a “loveable mentalist”.