This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mohammed-emwazi-the-interview-tape-in-which-jihadi-john-gives-his-view-on-terrorism-10081381.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mohammed Emwazi: The 2009 interview tape in which 'Jihadi John' gives his view on terrorism | Mohammed Emwazi: The 2009 interview tape in which 'Jihadi John' gives his view on terrorism |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Mohammed Emwazi told an MI5 officer that 9/11 was “wrong”, the 7 July bombings were “extremism” and people were entitled to their own beliefs, according to a new recording. | Mohammed Emwazi told an MI5 officer that 9/11 was “wrong”, the 7 July bombings were “extremism” and people were entitled to their own beliefs, according to a new recording. |
| In taped interviews purporting to be from 2009, the British extremist known as “Jihadi John” said that if he had the opportunity to retrieve the lives lost during 9/11 he “would make those lives come back”. | In taped interviews purporting to be from 2009, the British extremist known as “Jihadi John” said that if he had the opportunity to retrieve the lives lost during 9/11 he “would make those lives come back”. |
| In the interview, conducted by Asim Qureshi, the research director of advocacy group Cage, he recalls his encounter with an MI5 agent after he was flown from Tanzania to the Netherlands in 2009. The Independent has been unable to verify the tape’s authenticity but it supports the claim that the security services believed Emwazi was already on a path to radicalisation. His London accent is apparent in the transcript, which was revealed by The Guardian. In it he says: “He started telling me what do you think of 9/11? I told him: ‘This is a wrong thing. What happened was wrong. What do you want me to say? If I had the opportunity for those lives to come back then I would make those lives come back. I don’t think ... I think what happened is wrong...’ | |
| The MI5 handler, “Nick”, was unimpressed. Emwazi said that the agent looked at him and said: “I still believe you are going to Somalia to train.” | The MI5 handler, “Nick”, was unimpressed. Emwazi said that the agent looked at him and said: “I still believe you are going to Somalia to train.” |
| Emwazi said the agent “threatened him”, saying: “We are going to keep a close eye on you, Mohammed, and we already have been … We are going to keep a close eye on you.” | Emwazi said the agent “threatened him”, saying: “We are going to keep a close eye on you, Mohammed, and we already have been … We are going to keep a close eye on you.” |
| “Then he is asking me: ‘What do you think of the Jews, just like ...’ | “Then he is asking me: ‘What do you think of the Jews, just like ...’ |
| “I told him they’re a religion, everyone has got his right to his own beliefs. I can’t ... I don’t force no one. So he just tries ... he wants to know about my background ... about my about about my creed... Islam. I told him this is how Islam is ... I told him we don’t force anyone to come into religion you know, everyone has got their own right.” | “I told him they’re a religion, everyone has got his right to his own beliefs. I can’t ... I don’t force no one. So he just tries ... he wants to know about my background ... about my about about my creed... Islam. I told him this is how Islam is ... I told him we don’t force anyone to come into religion you know, everyone has got their own right.” |
| Cage said it had released the transcripts in a bid to support its claim that Emwazi was not a militant before the security services “harassed and intimidated” the Londoner, a suggestion that some will regard as risible. Last night Amnesty International said it is considering cutting links with the pressure group over any attempt to apologise for Isis or its human rights abuses. | Cage said it had released the transcripts in a bid to support its claim that Emwazi was not a militant before the security services “harassed and intimidated” the Londoner, a suggestion that some will regard as risible. Last night Amnesty International said it is considering cutting links with the pressure group over any attempt to apologise for Isis or its human rights abuses. |
| More details emerged today of how Emwazi’s family reacted to his involvement with Isis, with claims that his mother realised seven months ago that her son was the masked killer known as Jihadi John. | More details emerged today of how Emwazi’s family reacted to his involvement with Isis, with claims that his mother realised seven months ago that her son was the masked killer known as Jihadi John. |
| Ghania Emwazi recognised her son’s voice when he appeared for the first time in front of the cameras before the beheading of US journalist James Foley, according to comments by Kuwaiti officials in The Daily Telegraph. | Ghania Emwazi recognised her son’s voice when he appeared for the first time in front of the cameras before the beheading of US journalist James Foley, according to comments by Kuwaiti officials in The Daily Telegraph. |
| Emwazi’s father Jassem, 51, reportedly gave the account to Kuwaiti police after he was summoned for questioning over the weekend. He told them that his wife screamed: “That’s my son!” when she heard him speak. It is not known if she contacted the authorities. | Emwazi’s father Jassem, 51, reportedly gave the account to Kuwaiti police after he was summoned for questioning over the weekend. He told them that his wife screamed: “That’s my son!” when she heard him speak. It is not known if she contacted the authorities. |
| Kuwaiti newspapers said on Monday that other family members, who included British passport-holders, were being monitored after returning to the Arab country. | Kuwaiti newspapers said on Monday that other family members, who included British passport-holders, were being monitored after returning to the Arab country. |
| Emwazi was born in Kuwait before coming to Britain at the age of six. He attended school and the University of Westminster in the UK | Emwazi was born in Kuwait before coming to Britain at the age of six. He attended school and the University of Westminster in the UK |
| His family claimed to have lost contact with him in 2013 when he headed to Syria, telling them he was planning to help deliver aid. He re-emerged last year in Isis videos showing the murders of at least five Western hostages. It is not clear if both of his parents are currently in Kuwait. | His family claimed to have lost contact with him in 2013 when he headed to Syria, telling them he was planning to help deliver aid. He re-emerged last year in Isis videos showing the murders of at least five Western hostages. It is not clear if both of his parents are currently in Kuwait. |
| “It’s very shocking to see how he turned out: a mouthpiece for a terrorist organisation. His father is very distressed over what happened to his son. He’s not well,” said a family acquaintance, who only gave his first name, Tareq. | “It’s very shocking to see how he turned out: a mouthpiece for a terrorist organisation. His father is very distressed over what happened to his son. He’s not well,” said a family acquaintance, who only gave his first name, Tareq. |
| Emwazi’s former headteacher said on Monday that the 26-year-old had been bullied at school but appeared a hard-working and aspirational young man who went to the university of his choice. | Emwazi’s former headteacher said on Monday that the 26-year-old had been bullied at school but appeared a hard-working and aspirational young man who went to the university of his choice. |
| “Even now when I’m listening to the news and I hear his name I feel the skin on the back of my neck stand up because it is just so far from what I knew of him, and it is so shocking and horrendous the things that he has done,” said Jo Shuter, the former head at Quintin Kynaston academy in north-west London. | “Even now when I’m listening to the news and I hear his name I feel the skin on the back of my neck stand up because it is just so far from what I knew of him, and it is so shocking and horrendous the things that he has done,” said Jo Shuter, the former head at Quintin Kynaston academy in north-west London. |
| Two other former pupils from the school have been killed fighting for extremist groups abroad. | Two other former pupils from the school have been killed fighting for extremist groups abroad. |