Sir David Amess murder suspect ‘radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary’
SUSPECTED MP killer Ali Harbi Ali was radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary, former friends claimed last night.
As a first photo of the alleged knifeman emerged, school pals said vile online material turned him from a popular pupil into an extremist.
Sir David Amess’ grief-stricken family said: “We are broken.”
One friend who witnessed his dramatic change told The Sun last night: “Choudary was someone he became utterly obsessed with.”
Despite Ali’s radicalisation, relatives claimed he had trained to become an NHS doctor after spending four years at a top medical school.
But investigators are confident that Ali, 25, was not directed by terror kingpins abroad.
He had been previously referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-terror scheme but investigators are still piecing together how and when he became radicalised.
It's believed he was referred to the scheme as long ago as five years ago by a teacher who believed him to be an extremist risk.
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Sources have said Ali did not say anything of note during the attack on Tory MP Sir David Amess but was seen using his mobile phone moments afterwards.
He was said to have sat down calmly to wait for cops and picked up his phone before his arrest.
It's not known whether he used the phone to record any comments after the attack or to send a message to a third party.
But the actions, seen by witnesses in the room, are understood to be at the centre of why investigators labelled the attack a “terror incident,” reports.
Sources said Ali's online contacts — and what material he viewed — were now “prime movers” in the investigation.
Last night a former pal told how Ali had been a popular pupil who loved playing football at their secondary school in Croydon, South London.
They said: “He had been a really lovely lad. A devoted Muslim and very popular. He enjoyed football and was very normal and we’d all go to the cinema.
“He’d socialise and everyone really liked him.”
However the friend said his personality then changed dramatically in the sixth form after being lured into extremism online.
The pal went on: “He watched a lot of extreme videos including those posted by Choudary and his followers. Everyone used to say to him, ‘But he’s a hate cleric and hates the West’ but he didn’t care. He became a huge fan.
“He admired Anjem, said he was right and his cause was right. It disgusted me. We were all very, very worried.
“He became totally radicalised through the internet and now he’s a suspect in something as evil as this. It’s horrendous.”
Convicted hate preacher Choudary — back on the streets after being released from jail — is considered one of the most influential and dangerous radicalisers in the UK.
His followers included Michael Adebolajo, who murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby in South London.
Sources close to the investigation believe Ali may have considered killing other MPs, including Labour and Tory politicians, before picking Amess, who was "unlucky," reports.
“He was not targeted because of his political party," a Government source told the paper.
"David Amess was not specifically targeted."
Another source said it remained “unclear” why Amess was chosen.
POLICE SEARCHES
Police yesterday made extensive searches of Ali’s home in Kentish Town as well as his father’s house in Bounds Green, both North London, and his mother’s in Croydon, in the south of the city.
Friends of his highly educated and well-connected family spoke of their shock at Ali’s arrest and claimed he was studying medicine.
His dad Harbi is a former spokesman for the Somali government who fled to London to escape civil war.
Harbi Farah told The Sun: “I have known his dad Harbi for more than ten years. He’s a good man and this will be very upsetting for him.
“He’s a well-respected member of the Somali community in Britain and also in Somalia.
“He hasn’t been well for the last couple of years. He’s had surgery and is shielding.
“I never met Ali but I heard from other family members he was studying medicine.”
Ali’s uncle Awale Kullane is Somalia’s ambassador to China.
One aunt, who asked not to be named, said: “The family are extremely well educated and well connected politically. We are all devastated and so sorry for the loss of Sir David Amess. This has all come as a terrible shock. Harbi is beside himself. He brought up his son to be a good boy.”
Herman Vitry, a neighbour of Ali’s father, said: “I’ve never seen the boy but Harbi has been here for almost two years since just before lockdown.
“He came back from Somalia to have a heart operation. He told me he split from his wife a while ago and she lives in Croydon.”
Ali’s phone is now playing a crucial role in the police investigation.
Immediate analysis is understood to have shown messages, web searches and links that pointed to an Islamist extremist.
EXTREMIST PROBE
It led police to declare a terrorist incident within hours of Sir David’s death, rather than delaying for further forensic checks.
So far no direct links between Ali and Sir David have emerged.
Sources said his details were passed on to local police in the past few weeks.
One new line of inquiry last night was the Southend West MP was targeted in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, because his constituency surgeries were so well advertised online. Investigators are also looking at the possibility Ali was inspired by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Last night ex-security chief Colonel Richard Kemp warned of further attacks by jihadi fanatics emboldened by the group’s victory.
Col Kemp told The Sun: “It is highly likely the murder was inspired by the Taliban’s defeat of the US, UK and the West in Afghanistan. Jihadists across the world have been celebrating since our withdrawal. We can expect more attacks in this country.”
Meanwhile, the Met's Former Chief Superintendent Dal Babu warned there is still access to "horrendous videos of extremism" online, adding there is "always a danger of copy cat attacks".
He told Good Morning Britain: "We really need to be looking at why that can still be allowed to happen.
"People have been radicalised during lockdown and we need to make sure we identify who those individuals are and deal with them effectively.
"The internet companies have a lot to answer for."
Sir David's friend Richard Hillgrove said the MP was in "fine spirits" minutes before he killed and was "looking to the future".
Speaking of the day he died, Richard told GMB: "I had a video Zoom with him in his diary.
"He was at the church and I was a mile away in my office talking about the children's parliament, teaching young kids about the value of democracy.
"He was in such fine spirits.
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"He's always funny making jokes. He was looking to the future."
The devastated pal added: "I'm stunned."
