'Jihadi John': Mohammed Emwazi – from British computer programmer to Isis executioner

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The masked executioner who as “Jihadi John” came to embody the brutal violence of Isis was identified as a British computer programmer who was known to MI5 and police for at least four years before he slipped away into Syria. As the world’s media descended on the addresses where Emwazi was raised – ranging from an £800,000 mansion block apartment in Maida Vale to his last-known address on a gritty west London estate – debate raged about how the well-dressed and pensive son of a minicab driver became the blood-soaked poster boy of Isis. He said: “There’s no doubt that from time to time the security services have got to prioritise those upon whom they are conducting surveillance… It does seem to me that, once again, we have to look at the resources which are available.” The identity of “Jihadi John”, which was first made public by The Washington Post but subsequently confirmed by security-service sources, is understood to have been known to British and American security officials for several months. I couldn’t believe the horrible things they say he’s done.” Such incredulity was shared by Emwazi’s own family, who made it known through Cage that they did not accept he is “Jihadi John”.