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'Jihadi John' recording: Mohammed Emwazi denied extremism | 'Jihadi John' recording: Mohammed Emwazi denied extremism |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A recording has emerged in which the Islamic State fighter Mohammed Emwazi denied being an extremist and complained about UK security services. | A recording has emerged in which the Islamic State fighter Mohammed Emwazi denied being an extremist and complained about UK security services. |
In the tape, Emwazi - known as "Jihadi John" - said MI5 had threatened him and tried to "put words into my mouth". | In the tape, Emwazi - known as "Jihadi John" - said MI5 had threatened him and tried to "put words into my mouth". |
The tape was made in 2009 by advocacy group Cage after Emwazi was deported from Tanzania and questioned by MI5. | The tape was made in 2009 by advocacy group Cage after Emwazi was deported from Tanzania and questioned by MI5. |
The Kuwait-born Briton is believed to have taken part in the beheadings of Western hostages by Islamic State (IS). | The Kuwait-born Briton is believed to have taken part in the beheadings of Western hostages by Islamic State (IS). |
In emails and a meeting with Cage, Emwazi said he had arrived in Tanzania for a safari holiday in 2009 but had been refused entry and was put on a flight to Amsterdam, where a British agent accused him of trying to reach Somalia for terrorism training. | In emails and a meeting with Cage, Emwazi said he had arrived in Tanzania for a safari holiday in 2009 but had been refused entry and was put on a flight to Amsterdam, where a British agent accused him of trying to reach Somalia for terrorism training. |
Speaking to Cage when he returned to London later that year, Emwazi said: "He [the MI5 officer] looked at me and he said 'I still believe that you're going to Somalia to train'. | Speaking to Cage when he returned to London later that year, Emwazi said: "He [the MI5 officer] looked at me and he said 'I still believe that you're going to Somalia to train'. |
"I said 'after what I just told you, after… I told you that what's happening is extremism… you're still suggesting that I'm an extremist?' | "I said 'after what I just told you, after… I told you that what's happening is extremism… you're still suggesting that I'm an extremist?' |
"He just started, you know, going on trying to put words into my mouth." | "He just started, you know, going on trying to put words into my mouth." |
Emwazi said MI5 officers had been "threatening" him and told him: "We're going to keep a close eye on you Mohammed, we already have been." | Emwazi said MI5 officers had been "threatening" him and told him: "We're going to keep a close eye on you Mohammed, we already have been." |
He said the agent - who called himself Nick - also asked him what he thought of 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and the 7 July attacks in London. | He said the agent - who called himself Nick - also asked him what he thought of 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and the 7 July attacks in London. |
Emwazi replied "innocent people" had been killed in the 7/7 attacks and it was "extremism". He also said what happened on 9/11 was "wrong". | Emwazi replied "innocent people" had been killed in the 7/7 attacks and it was "extremism". He also said what happened on 9/11 was "wrong". |
"What do you want me to say?" he said he told Nick. "If I had the opportunity for those lives come back then I would make those lives come back." | "What do you want me to say?" he said he told Nick. "If I had the opportunity for those lives come back then I would make those lives come back." |
Cage's research director Asim Qureshi made the recording on a Dictaphone. The excerpt is part of a longer recording, not all of which was made available to the BBC. | Cage's research director Asim Qureshi made the recording on a Dictaphone. The excerpt is part of a longer recording, not all of which was made available to the BBC. |
Mr Qureshi has been criticised after suggesting MI5 harassment could have contributed to the radicalisation of Emwazi. | Mr Qureshi has been criticised after suggesting MI5 harassment could have contributed to the radicalisation of Emwazi. |
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday: "All we are asking for is a little bit of accountability. | But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday: "All we are asking for is a little bit of accountability. |
"What we want to see is that our security agencies don't operate in a way that actually drives people away from feeling like they have a role to play in this society." | "What we want to see is that our security agencies don't operate in a way that actually drives people away from feeling like they have a role to play in this society." |
Mr Qureshi said Cage was "horrified" by Islamic State's killings and insisted his comments were "not about sticking up for" Emwazi. | Mr Qureshi said Cage was "horrified" by Islamic State's killings and insisted his comments were "not about sticking up for" Emwazi. |
Jihadi John was unmasked as 26-year-old Emwazi last week, although British and US security services have reportedly known his identity for some time. | Jihadi John was unmasked as 26-year-old Emwazi last week, although British and US security services have reportedly known his identity for some time. |
Jihadi John, a nickname coined by the British press, has been seen in several videos showing the apparent murders of Islamic State captives, including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. | Jihadi John, a nickname coined by the British press, has been seen in several videos showing the apparent murders of Islamic State captives, including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. |
Emwazi's parents, who live in Kuwait, are said to have told the authorities there that they last spoke to their son in 2013 when he called them from Turkey. | Emwazi's parents, who live in Kuwait, are said to have told the authorities there that they last spoke to their son in 2013 when he called them from Turkey. |
They said he told them he was going to do humanitarian work in Syria. | They said he told them he was going to do humanitarian work in Syria. |
Emwazi's mother is said to have told Kuwaiti officials she immediately recognised his voice when she heard him on a hostage video. | Emwazi's mother is said to have told Kuwaiti officials she immediately recognised his voice when she heard him on a hostage video. |
Kuwaiti officials have told the BBC the family has been taken to a safe house. | |
They also said when the news about Emwazi broke, his father took an indefinite leave of absence from his job at a supermarket. | |
Emwazi was born in Kuwait in 1988 and came to the UK in 1994 when he was six years old. | Emwazi was born in Kuwait in 1988 and came to the UK in 1994 when he was six years old. |
He was educated at the Quintin Kynaston Community Academy in St John's Wood, north London, and then graduated from the University of Westminster in 2009 with a computing degree. | He was educated at the Quintin Kynaston Community Academy in St John's Wood, north London, and then graduated from the University of Westminster in 2009 with a computing degree. |