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Terror struck the heart of London on Wednesday after Masood, who was born Adrian Russell Ajao, drove a 4x4 car into pedestrians along Westminster Bridge before forcing his way through the gates at the front of the Houses of Parliament.

Four people were killed in the horrific incident – including Pc Keith Palmer who tried to stop Masood – and at least 40 were injured.

Terror group ISIS later claimed he was “one of their soldiers” – but police are now investigating whether he may have been a “lone wolf” attacker.

Lee Lawrence, 47, who knew the maniac before the London attack, said the violent thug once held a knife to his throat.

(Image: PA)

Lee added: “He was saying, ‘I want some f****** blood, I want to kill someone.

“I tried to calm him down but his eyes were rolling, he was off his head.

“He put the knife up against my throat. I grabbed his arm and pushed him away.

“He started saying, ‘What have I done, what am I doing? I’m getting help. I just want blood, I dream about killing someone’.”

(Image: PA)

Lee, who still lives in Northiam, told the Sun: “It was while he was inside that Ade turned to Islam.

“I only saw him once when he came out of prison. He was driving through the village, saw me and put his finger against his throat and made a slashing gesture.

“He loved scaring people. He got off on being the hard man.”

His former childhood pal Mark Ashdown, 52, said he was shocked by the news on Wednesday but confirmed Masood’s time in prison had changed him.

Mark, who met Masood in secondary school said: “We were inseparable from the age of 12.

“He was certainly not a Muslim when I knew him.

“Nothing could have prepared me for hearing his name on the radio.

“I felt sick to the stomach that the creature dying on the stretcher outside Parliament used to be my best friend.

“The man who cradled my baby boy Lewis 24 years ago was the same man who mowed down children on Westminster Bridge.”

He added: “When he first came out he told me he’d become a Muslim in prison and I thought he was joking.

“I last saw him before his second stint in prison.”