'Jihadi John' named as Mohammed Emwazi

According to the Washington Post, the IS militant has been named by friends and others familiar with the case as Mohammed Emwazi.

British radicalisation experts said they believed the identity to be "accurate and correct".

The man nicknamed as Jihadi John rose to notoriety after he first appeared in a video posted online last August, in which he appeared to kill the American journalist James Foley.

A statement from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King's College London said: "We believe the identity and name published by the Washington Post and now in the public realm to be accurate and correct."

Dressed all in black with a balaclava covering all but his eyes and the ridge of his nose and a holster under his left arm, 'Jihadi John' reappeared in videos of the beheadings of US journalist Steven Sotloff, British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, and American aid worker Peter Kassig.

And last month, the militant appeared in a video with the Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, shortly before they were killed.

A detailed Washington Post article claims Jihadi John is in fact Kuwaiti-born Emwazi, who it says travelled to Syria around 2012 before later joining IS, which has taken control of large swathes of the conflict-torn country, as well as territory in neighbouring Iraq.

The article claims Emwazi started to radicalise after a planned safari in Tanzania following his graduation from the University of Westminster was brought to an abrupt end when he was detained on arrival in Dar es Salaam and deported the following day.

It is claimed that he told friends he was flown to Amsterdam where an officer from MI5 accused him of trying to reach Somalia, where the militant group al-Shabab operates.

According to the article, in 2009/2010, Emwazi decided to move to Kuwait, where he told friends he had a job and marriage waiting for him - but was prevented from travelling there by UK counter-terrorism officials.

Released hostages have told officials that Jihadi John was part of a team guarding Western captives at a prison in Idlib, Syria, in 2013. He was joined by two other men with British accents, including one who was dubbed "George".

The ICSR said: "Jihadi John is not special in the sense that all the foreign fighters have tried to hide their identity by using pseudonyms or literally by masking themselves.

"The fact that 'Jihadi John' has been unveiled in this manner demonstrates that whatever efforts are made, the ability to mask one's identity is limited or in fact impossible, and their true identities will eventually be revealed.

"This demonstrates what we have long said about radicalisation, that it is not something driven by poverty or social deprivation. Ideology clearly plays a big role in motivating some men to participate in jihadist causes.

"British fighters have clearly demonstrated that they are not in this conflict to take a back seat. They are full participants in this war, operating as suicide bombers, hostage takers, and executioners."

Scotland Yard has refused to confirm the reports.

Commander Richard Walton, head of the Met's counter terrorism command, said: "We have previously asked media outlets not to speculate about the details of our investigation on the basis that life is at risk.

"We are not going to confirm the identity of anyone at this stage or give an update on the progress of this live counter-terrorism investigation."

Downing Street declined to confirm or deny that the reported name was known to the intelligence and security services.

Asked if David Cameron was concerned about Emwazi's name being reported, a No 10 spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister would be concerned about information being put into the public domain at any time that might jeopardise ongoing police or security investigations or the safety of British citizens.

"There is an ongoing investigation. It is absolutely right that we allow the police and security agencies to do all they can to bring those responsible to justice and to help keep British people safe."

Asim Qureshi, a director with British human rights group Cage, is quoted in the Washington Post article as being in contact with Emwazi before he left for Syria.

It is reported Mr Qureshi believed Emwazi was Jihadi John.

A statement from Cage has played down Mr Qureshi's role in identifying the militant, explaining that while there were some striking similarities there was "no way he could be 100% certain".

However, Cage has confirmed that Emwazi was in contact with Cage for a period of two years over alleged "interference" by the UK security agencies.

According to Cage, Emwazi described in e-mails his decision not to travel to Kuwait.

He reportedly told the group: "I never got onto the flight, what was the point, I said to myself; I'll just get rejected.

"I had a job waiting for me and marriage to get started.

"But now I feel like a prisoner, only not in a cage, in London.

"A person imprisoned and controlled by security service men, stopping me from living my new life in my birthplace and my country, Kuwait.

"I have been trying to find out the reason for my refused Visa issue from my home country Kuwait, and a way to solve the issue.

"So through my friends in Kuwait, it has been said to me that Kuwait has no problem with me entering, and the reason for my refusal is simply because the UK agents have told them to not let me in!!"

Cage attacked British security services for "systematically" harassing young Muslims, leaving them with no legal avenue to redress their situation, citing the example of Michael Adebolajo, who murdered soldier Lee Rigby.

Mr Qureshi said: "Like Michael Adebolajo, suffocating domestic policies aimed at turning a person into an informant but which prevent a person from fulfilling their basic life needs would have left a lasting impression on Emwazi.

"He desperately wanted to use the system to change his situation, but the system ultimately rejected him."

He added: "We now have evidence that there are several young Britons whose lives were not only ruined by security agencies, but who became disenfranchised and turned to violence because of British counter-terrorism policies coupled with long standing grievances over Western foreign policy.

"This case should trigger thinking about British domestic and foreign policy.

"What risk assessments, if any, have been made about British counter-terrorism policy and the key part it plays in radicalising individuals?

"How have the security services been allowed to get away with abusing British citizens without redress?

"Why are the long-standing grievances over Western interventions in the Muslim world been ignored?

"All parties genuinely interested in achieving peace and safety ought to realise that revising British foreign and domestic policy is the only way forward. Acting otherwise would be irresponsible."

After Emwazi's name first appeared, reporters gathered outside an address in west London but there was no reply from inside.

The address is on the Mozart Estate in Queen's Park, which has had problems in the past with drugs and gangs.

One neighbour said no-one had been seen at the address for several days