OLD school friends of Michael Adebolajo told last night of their shock at finding the happy-go-lucky joker had turned into a blood-crazed killer.
They remembered him as a cheerful boy from a loving Catholic family, known for his dislike of violence.
One even recalled how the footie-loving lad dreamed of becoming a policeman. What they did not know was that he had been living a bizarre double life — peddling Class-A drugs as he plotted jihad on London’s streets.
A family friend said: “The pictures of him I saw were not the lad I knew. He had been brainwashed to the point of madness. My first thought when I saw him on TV was for his mother — she raised him as a Christian with good manners and respect. But she’ll be inconsolable at seeing what he’s turned into.” A former pal said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him covered in blood, ranting on TV.”Giving his name only as Jack, the 27-year-old said: “He was a lovely lad at school and was liked by everyone. “In the five years I went to school with him I never
saw him have a fight or even get into an argument. What on Earth got into his head?”
Another classmate at Marshalls Park Secondary School in Romford, Essex, said: “Michael was a good kid who worked hard and got good grades. He was liked by pupils and staff. His only vice was the cheeky sense of humour which would sometimes disrupt the class. “He was never violent and I don’t remember him ever being in trouble.
“He liked football and played in goal. I think he was a Manchester United fan. He was just an ordinary, happy-go-lucky kid.”A third mate said Adebolajo dubbed himself “Badman” in an attempt to look cool, but added: “Everyone knew him as Narn. I don’t know where that came from.” A fourth added: “He was a really normal lad. When we had to talk about what careers we want to do before we left he said he wanted to join the police.”
Adebolajo, 28, was born in Britain to churchgoing Nigerian immigrants Tina and Anthony, both now 56.
He was raised a Catholic along with younger brother Jeremiah, 26, and their two elder sisters in Romford, Essex.
But shortly after his 16th birthday he began studying radical Islam and his behaviour seemed to change.
Picture of innocence ... Adebolajo on a school trip aged around 13
He started raising thorny religious and political issues — and sparked rows with his mother by briefly experimenting with wearing traditional Muslim robes. Both he and Jeremiah appeared increasingly drawn to extremist videos and literature. A friend of Jeremiah said: “Michael was giving him all this stuff. Later on when I was with them Michael grabbed me and produced what looked like a knuckle-duster with a dagger sticking out of it and held it to my throat.
“He said he was going to kill me, then released me and said he was only joking — but I didn’t find it funny.”
Adebolajo’s parents were said to have become so worried they moved to Lincoln to escape extremist brainwashers.
But he left home to study business at Greenwich University, South East London.
A pal said: “Michael was a fairly hard-working student, but really loved playing football games on his PlayStation.
“He would go out partying a fair bit too and loved his gangsta rap. Back in 2004 we were listening to loads of 50 Cent and Eminem. “On nights out, he would dress up really smart — fancy shirt, lots of aftershave, that kind of thing. He loved chasing girls and was a bit of a player.”
Adebolajo fell in with a “bad crowd”, experimented with drugs and had links to notorious South London gangs.
He appeared to shake off their clutches — only to sink deeper into the dark world of extremism. He used the name “Mujahid”, or holy warrior, and handed out radical leaflets in Woolwich High Street. And he began plotting jihad — while selling drugs back in Romford. Every morning he would drive there while texting customers about that day’s pick-up spots.
Regulars knew him as Jay but nicknamed him Freddie Mercury and Red Rum because of his buck teeth.
One said: “No one ever saw him in Muslim dress. He never spouted any strong opinions one way or the other on the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.” Another said: “Very occasionally he was in his car with the second man who was photographed at the murder scene. Now we wonder who was calling the shots.”
A woman in her 20s revealed how Adebolajo asked her out on dates. She said: “He was so friendly, so polite. “He told me how much he liked me and how he wanted to take me out, but I explained to him I am a lesbian, though I still enjoyed his company. He took it very well. It was all very good humoured and I kept seeing him regularly. He’s come calling to my door for a chat.” Another source said: “When he came to Romford to sell drugs he would let it be know in coded text messages just what was on offer. “He would say, ‘I’ve got some designer white shirts’ which meant crack cocaine, or ‘I’ve got black T-shirts’, which meant heroin.
“If people didn’t pay their debts, he never got heavy with them. He just wasn’t like that. He was the only dealer who never threatened violence.”
Lee killed at home as girlfriend fights war
MURDERED soldier Lee Rigby’s girlfriend was last night flying home from serving in Afghanistan — after he was hacked to death on the streets of London. The cruel twist between the couple came as tributes poured in for dad Rigby, 25. Two terror suspects shot by cops, one named as Michael Adebolajo, far right, were under arrest in hospital last night. Adebolajo, 28, originally of Romford, Essex, and Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, South East London, were arrested at the scene of Wednesday’s shocking bloodbath.
Cops yesterday raided the four-bed home of Adebolajo’s father in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, and five London addresses.
A man and woman, both 29, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Police recovered items from the scene in Woolwich and Scotland Yard said: “This is a large, complex and fast-moving investigation.”
Pals said Drummer Rigby, of 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was a loving dad to his two-year-old son Jack. He had split from the boy’s mum Rebecca, 30.
Butchered ... tragic Drummer Lee Rigby
He had joined the British army in 2006 and also performed ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace. His girlfriend is serving in the Royal Military Police. Lee’s sisters Sara, 24, Chelsea, 21, and Megan plus dad Philip, 53, who is divorced from their mum Lyn, 46, were last night being comforted by relatives. The family, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, said in a statement: “Lee always looked after his sisters and protected them. His family meant everything to him.”
They said of the “loving” and “lovely” young man: “All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy was be in the army. He wanted to live life and enjoy himself.” Lee was killed as he walked to his barracks in Woolwich, South East London, on Wednesday afternoon. Adebolajo and his 22-year-old alleged accomplice Adebowale were in separate hospitals under armed guard last night. Their injuries were said to be “non-life threatening”.
Police gun down suspects in video
First aid ... police medics help suspect as knife and gun lie nearby
EXCLUSIVE:
By DAN SALES
THIS is the scene moments after two suspected terrorists were gunned down by armed cops.
An exclusive video records nine shots ringing out before the pair are seen lying on the ground.
People nearby are heard screaming as they flee from the gunfire.
One suspect, Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale, in a brown coat is seen on the ground with his thumb blown off.
CHILLING sound of gunshots heard as armed cops confront the terror suspects wielding knives. Around him is an arsenal of weapons, including a knife and an old-fashioned revolver. A brave cop checks his vital signs while another kneels beside him giving him first aid. The other suspect, thought to be Michael Adebolajo, lies completely still close by.
IT repairman Zac-Samanachi Qadir, 35, who filmed the footage, said: “The police opened fire, they had no choice.
“The guy in the brown coat had the revolver. His thumb was hanging off his hand. It could be his gun had backfired.”
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