Details about Westminster attacker Khalid Masood have emerged, along with pictures from his childhood.
Fifty-two-year-old Masood died on Wednesday after launching a sickening attack on innocent people in Westminster.
Full details of the British-born attacker are still being pieced together, however, the acting deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police announced in an early morning press conference that Masood's full birthname was Adrian Russell Ajao.
Advert
Masood was born in Dartford, Kent and had previously spent time in prison for stabbing people.
He used a number of names throughout his life, including Khalid Choudry and Adrian Elms, it has been reported.
As a teenager, he attended Huntleys Secondary School and one former classmate, Kenton Till, told the Daily Mail: "We were good friends for about three of four years. He was very bright, very academic and he was good sports - good at everything really. He was very good at football.
Masood as a schoolboy, before he changed his name. Credit: Huntleys School
Advert
"He wasn't religious at all. He was a big character, very friendly and a good laugh. He might have been the only black kid at the school. He experienced a little bit of racism but not a lot because he always tried to be popular.
"But he was just a normal kid - good fun to be around. At the time he was good at chemistry and I think he wanted to go into pharmacy or something like that."
In 2000, he slashed the face of a man called Piers Mott during a row. Speaking in court at the time, Masood said he snapped after experiencing racism in his local community.
Advert
He was jailed for the attack, and just three years after his release he was jailed once more, again for stabbing someone in the face.
It is believed he converted to Islam during his time in prison.
Credit: Met Police
Advert
Neighbours who lived near Masood in Birmingham, where he resided until Christmas, described him as a 'strange character' and called him 'the vampire', according to the Mail, because he would often dress in black and walk around at night.
They told the Daily Mail that Masood lived with a woman and their young children.
Adrian Baker, who lived in the same village as Masood for several years, told the Press Association: "I'm gobsmacked. He didn't appear to be very religious. He would go into the local pubs.
A house in West Ham, London which was the former home of Khalid Masood. Credit: PA
Advert
"I do remember a fracas involving a guy called Piers Mott. This was a long time ago. I remember Elms being a bit of a troubled character, which is probably the best way to describe him."
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: "Masood was also known by a number of aliases. He was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack."
Speaking to Parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "His identity is known to the police and MI5 and when operational considerations allow, he will be publicly identified.
"What I can confirm is that the man was British-born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism.
"He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture.
"There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot."
So far nine people have arrested and are in custody in relation to the attack. One woman has been released on bail.
Featured Image Credit: PA