I wasn't going to say anything but my picture's in The Sun. I went to school with Mohammed Emwazi. pic.twitter.com/YZmQUzkzFq
— Matt Seton (@MattSeton) February 27, 2015
He was a 12 year old kid. That's about all I have to add to the story.
— Matt Seton (@MattSeton) February 27, 2015
I remember one we were playing football and he smashed his head on the goalpost. I
— Matt Seton (@MattSeton) February 27, 2015
Now he kills people for a living...
— Matt Seton (@MattSeton) February 27, 2015
Emwazi went on to Quintin Kynaston Academy, a school which aims "to develop the best in every student" after leaving St. Mary Magdalene. There, he was described to have been a "typical north-west London boy."A classmate described Emwazi in the CNN report as quite popular, referring to him as "nice," "down to earth," and "humble."He is depicted to have been quite tolerant of diversity, a boy who was "friends with everyone," speaking to "all the Indian boys, all the Pakistani boys, [all the] people from different religions" - an approach far more tolerant than ISIS' extreme radicalism which he now fosters.Emwazi's neighbor reiterated comments that Emwazi was a polite, young man in the CNN report.His former teacher described him as an ideal student: diligent, hardworking, responsible and polite.The unidentified educator told CNN that there was never any indication of violent tendencies with Mohammed, despite his religious tendencies and mosque visits.Emwazi continued his education at the Westminister University in London, according to CNN, where he completed a degree in computer programming in 2009.The university issued a statement concerning Emwazi Thursday, saying, "if the allegations of terrorist activity are true, we are shocked and sickened by the news. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families."Emwazi is believed to have traveled to Syria around 2012 (three years after graduating from University), and to have later joined Islamic State.In videos released by IS, the "Jihadi John" black-clad militant is seen masked, brandishing a knife, and speaking with an English accent before carrying out the beheadings of hostages including Americans and Britons.The Post quoted friends of Emwazi as saying they thought he had started to become radicalized after a planned safari in Tanzania following his graduation from University.They said Emwazi and two friends - a German convert to Islam named Omar and another man, Abu Talib - never made it to the safari. On landing in Dar es Salaam, in May 2009, they were detained by police and held overnight before eventually being deported, they said.In 2010, counter-terrorism officials in Britain detained Emwazi, according to the Post, fingerprinting him and searching his belongings.