Jihadi John: Islamic State killer Mohammed Emwazi a 'loner who was bullied at school'
THE infamous Islamic State killer known as 'Jihadi John' - who was last week unmasked as west Londoner Mohammed Emwazi - was BULLIED at school, his former headteacher has revealed.
The masked extremist, who has brutally beheaded a series of western hostages in the terror group's propaganda videos, had to ask school staff for help to overcome "adolescent issues", it has emerged.
Jo Shuter, the former headteacher of Quintin Kynaston academy in north west London, has said Emwazi, now aged 26, did not have many friends while he was a pupil at her school.
He was cold. He didn't talk much. He wouldn't join us in prayer
"He had some issues with being bullied which we dealt with," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"He wasn’t a particularly social young man. He didn’t have a huge group of friends."
However, Ms Shuter did add that Emwazi, now dubbed the 'world's most wanted man', was a "quiet, reasonably hard-working young person".
She continued: "By the time he got into the sixth form he was to all intents and purposes a hard-working, aspirational young man who went on to the university he wanted to go to.
"I can't stress enough, he wasn't a huge concern to us."
However, another former Quintin Kynaston teacher revealed Emwazi, who previously lived with his family in Queen's Park in west London, was given anger management therapy while studying at the school.
The unnamed teacher told BBC's Newsnight Emwazi was involved in a number of fights in his first year.
Since his identity was revealed last week, a high-ranking Islamic State commander has described Emwazi as a "cold loner" who set himself apart from others.
"He was cold. He didn't talk much. He wouldn't join us in prayer," said the former militant known as Abu Ayman al-Iraqi, who has since defected from the extremist group – also known as Isis or Isil.
"He'd only pray with his friends … the other British brothers prayed with us, but he was strange."
Al-Iraqi also claimed the Islamic State use Emwazi by playing him"like a piano" – capitalising on his notoriety in the West to recruit other European jihadists.
"Some love him," he said. "Some joined Isis after watching and admiring him; they take him as an example.
"Isis play him like a piano. He's a celebrity to attract our Muslim brothers in Europe.
However, Al-Iraqi admitted other extremists think Emwazi is "showing off" and believe "he's being used by Isis".
Emwazi is thought to have been responsible for the brutal killings of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, American aid worker Peter Kassig, British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines and Japanese hostages Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa.
Each killing was publicised in a series of highly-produced video clips.
The masked militant appeared to speak with a British accent, prompting speculation about his identity.
The killer gained his moniker after being nicknamed 'John' after the Beatle John Lennon due to his nationality.
