London Terrorist was sweet lad and a good Muslim

SamOdom · Jul 12, 2005

Sky News
July 12, 2005

One man who said he grew up with the bombing suspect said: "I knew him. He's a very nice lad, a very nice lad.

"We were brought up together on the same street. He was just a nice lad, you know, kept himself to himself. I'm, like everything, shocked, surprised...but I don't feel sorry for him because he took innocent lives.

"He liked to play football, play cricket. I'm just shocked like everybody else."

Another friend, aged 19, said they played cricket together last week.

He said: "It's impossible. It's not in his nature to do something like this, he's is the type of guy who would condemn things like that."

A third friend, aged 21, said: "He's the kind of person who gets along with anyone. His sense of humour is very good. He's a sweet lad."

Neighbours said he was a "good Muslim" who lived with his parents, brother and two sisters.

docmercer--banned · Jul 12, 2005

Sounds like the crowd who also knew Jeffrey Dahmer ...

eek. · Jul 12, 2005

Kinda sounds like those mass murderers when they finally get caught...

docmercer--banned · Jul 12, 2005

or Karl Rove's relatives right now ....

SamOdom · Jul 13, 2005

According to one neighbour, Hasib Hussain "went off the rails" as a young teenager but became a reformed character when he "suddenly became devoutly religious" two years ago.

A friend of the family said: "His older brother was worried because Hasib seemed to be getting into some kind of gang and started wearing white robes but he decided there was no harm in him becoming religious. He didn't realise that there might have been something more sinister to it."

SamOdom · Jul 13, 2005

The uncle of one of the London bombers today spoke of his family's devastation.

Bashir Ahmed, 65, said the family of Shehzad Tanweer had been "left shattered" by the news that the 22-year-old was a suicide bomber.

Speaking at the family home in Beeston, Leeds, he said: "The family is shattered. This is a terrible thing."

Mr Ahmed said it was hard for the family to accept their son had caused such loss of life, adding: "It wasn't him. It must have been forces behind him."

He said his nephew was intelligent, adding: "He was a very kind and calm person. He was respected by everyone."

Pakistan trip

Mr Ahmed said his nephew went to Pakistan for two months earlier this year to study religion.

He denied earlier reports that his nephew travelled to Afghanistan and took part in training camps.

"There is no way, I have seen his passport."

Mr Ahmed described his nephew as "calm and collected".

He added: "He was intelligent. He went to university, Leeds Met, to study sport science. His plan was to go into sports."

He added: "He had everything to live for. His parents were loving and supportive. They had no financial worries." He said he now accepted the family may have to move away from the area.