Islamic State group has confirmed that the man known as Jihadi John was killed in a US drone strike.

A magazine for the terror organisation paid tribute to 27-year-old Mohammed Emwazi, who lived and was educated in west London.

Referring to him as Abu Muharib al-Muhajir, the obituary said he was radicalised after the London 7/7 transport attacks, and referred to the 2005 atrocity which claimed 56 lives and injured hundreds more as “blessed raids”.

Emwazi became one of the faces of the group, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh, after beheading hostages with a knife.

The tribute and obituary to Jihadi John, released by Islamic State group, also included a new photo of Mohammed Emwazi

Dressed in black with all but his eyes and the ridge of his nose hidden and a holster under his left arm, Jihadi John reappeared in videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, and American aid worker Peter Kassig.

The militant also appeared in a video with Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, shortly before they were killed.

'Just a normal boy'

He had moved to London as a six-year-old from Kuwait and attended St Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School in Maida Vale .

Those who knew him spoke of their shock when it was revealed in February last year that Emwazi was the face behind the notorious black balaclava.

One ex-classmate said: “I saw the name Mohammed Emwazi and I realised I knew him from primary school.

“I called my old friends from school and we were all completely shocked. He just seemed like a normal kid and there was no indication of him becoming the person that he is now.”

Another said: “He wasn’t so good in school, he was the bottom half of the class, but he was one of the sporty guys. He was popular.”

And one more added: “Mohammed wasn’t what I could call a fundamental Muslim. He wore smart trendy Western clothes and on the surface there was no sign of radicalisation whatsoever.

“I’m staggered he has been identified as Jihadi John.”

A family friend described him as “just a normal boy”. He said: “I am shocked. We knew his family were distressed because they didn’t know where he was. They are a lovely family, they are absolutely amazing.

“Mohammed’s father is one of the most good-natured men in the world. His mum is very nice too. I am completely overwhelmed.”

After leaving St Mary Magdalene he went on to study at Quentin Kynaston Community Academy in nearby St John’s Wood and then the University of Westminster.

In September it emerged the executioner was on a UK government kill-list . He was killed last November after being struck by a missile launched from a US Predator drone.


He was located in the Islamic State stronghold of Al-Raqqah and hit as he tried to enter a car.