THE man identified as 'Jihadi John' - the notorious Islamic
State terrorist filmed beheading Western hostages - attended a
Church of England primary school in West London, it has been
reported.
Mohammed Emwazi, who was born in Kuwait but grew up in Britain,
was said to be Jihadi John by the Washington Post on Thursday. He
attended St Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School, near
Paddington, from 1996.
He later studied computing at the University of Westminster
before leaving for Syria in 2013. He became infamous after
appearing on numerous Islamic State videos, with his face covered
by a black mask, waving a knife at the camera before appearing to
murder hostages including journalists and aid workers.
It has been reported that his siblings and parents still live in
London. When approached on Friday, St Mary Magdalene school and the
dicoese of London declined to comment.
The group Cage, which campaigns on behalf of those they claim
are being harassed and mistreated by the security services, said
yesterday that Mr Emwazi appealed for their help in 2009 after he
was briefly detained and questioned by intelligence officers while
trying to visit Tanzania.
He was both accused of attempting to reach the civil war in
Somalia, and asked to become an informant for MI5. Cage also said
that he was then repeatedly prevented from emigrating to Kuwait.
The Government has not commented on these claims.
