
The British-born jihadi who killed four and injured 29 in Westminster was last night revealed to be a middle-aged criminal career who MI5 had investigated in the past and had a previous conviction for stabbing a man in the nose.

English teacher Khalid Masood, 52, a 'lone wolf' attacker, who was living in the Birmingham area, had a series of convictions for assault and other crimes.

Scotland Yard revealed how Masood was known by a number of aliases and MailOnline can reveal he was born Adrian Elms to a single mother in Kent before his religious conversion. Masood has used the names Khalid Choudry and Adrian Ajao among others.

He grew up in a £300,000 house in the seaside town of Rye, East Sussex and had a long criminal history.

His first conviction was for criminal damage in November 1983, when he was just 19.

His last was for an attack in 2003, where he stabbed a 22-year-old man in the face, leaving him slumped in the driveway of a nursing home in Eastbourne. The victim was left needing cosmetic surgery after the vicious attack.

Masood is understood to have spent time in Lewes jail in East Sussex, Wayland prison in Norfolk and Ford open prison in West Sussex, The Times reported.

He was sentenced to two years for wounding in 2000 and sent back to jail in 2003 for the attack in Eastbourne.

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The man police believe to be responsible for the terrorist attack in Westminster has been identified as Khalid Masood, 52. It also emerged today the attacker was known to MI5 after an investigation many years ago, but was considered 'peripheral'

Masood had never been convicted of terror offences, although Theresa May revealed this morning that he had been on MI5's radar a number of years ago.

Police insist there was no intelligence suggesting he was about to unleash a terror attack.

Masood was a married father-of-three, and a religious convert who was into bodybuilding, according to Sky News. He had falsely given his profession as a teacher.

The night before launching the attack he had stayed at a budget hotel in Brighton.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said this afternoon: '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.

'However, he was known to police and has a range of previous convictions for assaults, including GBH, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences.

'His first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003 for possession of a knife. He has not been convicted for any terrorism offences.'

Masood stabbed PC Keith Palmer to death with two knives outside parliament after killing mother-of-two Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran as he ploughed along a crowded pavement on Westminster Bridge.

A 75-year-old man who was injured in the attack died tonight.

ISIS claimed responsibility for its first attack on British soil and said the crazed knifeman was its 'soldier'.

Terror group ISIS today claimed they inspired the attack which killed three and injured 29 others in Westminster yesterday

Mother-of-two Aysha Frade (left), Metropolitan policeman Keith Palmer (centre) and US tourist Kurt Cochran (right) have been named as victims of the attack

Searches continue at a number of addresses in Birmingham where police are trying to gather as much information as possible on Masood and any potential associates

One of the other properties raided was a flat in this building in the Winson Green area of Birmingham. Neighbour Iwona Romek said: 'I am very surprised, I cannot believe it.'

Masood is believed to have moved around a number of address in recent years, including these houses in east London (left) and Winson Green, Birmingham (right)

Theresa May revealed MI5 knew of the attacker but considered him a 'peripheral' figure who was 'not part of the current intelligence picture'

Elsewhere today, hundreds of police swooped in dramatic raids across the nation making eight arrests.

Last night police were searching a flat close to the Olympic village, in East London, where a woman named locally as Rohey Hydara lived.

She had lived with Masood in at least two separate addresses but it was unclear what their relationship was.

Giving details of the attacker's background in Parliament today, Prime Minister Theresa May said: 'The man was British-born and - some years ago - he was once investigated 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. Intensive investigations continue.'

Masood, 52, was born on Christmas Day 1964 in Kent as Adrian Elms, to his unmarried mother, Janet Elms. A little under two years later she married Phillip Ajao in Crawley, West Sussex.

Twenty years later they moved to Tunbridge Wells where they set up home with his stepfather and two half-brothers, Alex and Paul.

Paul Ajao, 50, lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and runs a number of florists and fabrics companies. He denied knowing Masood, while MailOnline has so far been unable to get in contact with Alex.

His mother now lives in rural west Wales with her husband, where she runs an online business selling hand-made bags and cushions.

By now using the surname Ajao, Masood met a woman and they had a child in 1992 before settling in the village of Northiam, near Hastings, East Sussex.

What happens over the next decade is unclear, but in 2003, he was accused of stabbing a man in the face. Masood was running a television aerial installation business at the time,

The following year, he appeared in Medway, in Kent, where he married a local Muslim woman. Six years later, he was living in Luton, which is known for its links to extremism.

Masood then moved to Birmingham, although he was also registered as living in a terraced house in West Ham last year.

A photo taken after a raid in Birmingham appears to show one of the three suspects arrested at a flat above a takeaway sitting in the back of a police van

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Press Association: 'This guy is a local guy. I've been living in the area for 20 years.

'I don't know him personally but I believe he belongs to a mosque on Leyton High Road.

'I've seen his face many times. I saw him on the news at around 7pm last night and thought 'this is the guy I know from the mosque.'

'He had a beard and big eyes.'

Worshippers at the Al-Tawhid mosque in Leyton were surprised to learn of Masood's alleged links with the mosque.

One, Abdul Abdul, told the Telegraph: 'We condemn this attack. A true Muslim would never do this. He's not one of us, he's not a representative of us'.

Armed police stormed a flat on Hagley Road, Birmingham last night as part of six raids across the country following the Westminster attack. The address is close to where the Hyundai used as a weapon in the attack was rented

Police have been searching a three-storey townhouse in the Winson Green area of Birmingham and neighbours said Masood lived there for around seven months until December last year.

Neighbour Iwona Romek, 45, said: 'When I saw the pictures on TV and in the papers of the man who carried out the attack, I recognised him as the man who used to live next door.

'I would see him quite often, but it would just be a 'hello' and a 'how are you'. He had a young child, who I'd think was about five or six years old.

'There was a woman living there with him, an Asian woman. He seemed to be quite nice, he would be taking care of his garden and the weeds.

'He moved out in December. One day he was gone, there were delivery vans outside all of a sudden. Last night I just heard banging of the door and police shouting 'open the door, open the door'. They were saying 'it's on the second floor.'

'I heard the helicopters flying above too. Men were going in the forensics outfits, it was very strange... I just thought it was a normal family.'

A team of heavily armed police in riot gear arrived in unmarked cars last night and stormed the flat in the east of the city

By the time of the attack, Masood was living with friends in a flat above a restaurant in the city's Hagley Road, which was raided on Wednesday night.

Aged in their 20s, they are believed to be among those arrested during the series of raids.

Stunned residents described seeing more than a dozen black-clad officers equipped with machine guns smashing their way into the Birmingham flat, believed to be a rental, at about 11pm on Wednesday.

One witness who works in a shop near the second-floor Birmingham flat said: 'The man from London lived here.'

He added: 'They came and arrested three men.'

Another resident said he recalled two men living there.

He heard one man in the flat speaking on the phone in what he described as an 'Arabic or Pakistani accent', saying he had heard it 'for the last two or three nights'.

One resident said: 'There were definitely two men and one woman and they were fairly young. There are horrible conditions up there and there have been problems with that row of flats before.'

Hagley Road was sealed off by officers for several hours as the raid was carried out.

The road is in the well-heeled district of Edgbaston - a cricket-loving corner of Britain's second largest city that is unused to the sight of armed police blocking off streets.

Stuart Bailey, who lives four doors down from one of the flats raided, said: 'There were a load of armed police in the street. They were all dressed in black and armed with what looked like MP5s (submachine guns) and one of them had six ammunition magazines strapped to his leg.'

Lucas Camoes, a 23-year-old warehouse worker, said: 'It's a very calm area. There are loads of university students here so it's very surprising this happened right here.

'I don't feel safe at all. A bit paranoid.'

A neighbour says he believes Masood, who carried out the attack in London yesterday, lived in the flat above the takeaway

Landlord Farhad Makanvand said he didn't know who had been staying at the flats above his curry house as it was rented out by a separate letting agents.

Mr Makanvand, who also owns the next door curry house Shiraz, said: 'I wasn't at the scene last night, I don't live there.

'I bought the property six years ago for over £300,000. It is contracted to the letting agents so I have no idea who lives there or how many people.'

A spokesperson for Initial Property, who let the flats on behalf of the landlord, said: 'Initial Property are not making any comment at the moment.'

Car rental firm Enterprise confirmed the Hyundai 4x4 used in the attack was rented in Spring Hill, Birmingham, less than a mile from the house being searched.

In a statement, the car hire company said one of its employees had identified the vehicle after seeing the licence plate in an image online and the firm had immediately contacted the authorities.

The firm said in a statement: 'We are co-operating fully with the authorities and will provide any assistance that we can to the investigation.

'Our thoughts are very much with the victims of this terrible tragedy.'

A police van remained outside a flat above a takeaway this morning as police revealed five other properties had been raided

ARRESTS MADE BY THE MET OVERNIGHT A 39-year-old woman was arrested at an address in east London. A 21-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested at an address in Birmingham. A 26-year-old woman and three men aged 28, 27 and 26 years old were arrested at a separate address in Birmingham. All were arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Further, a 58-year-old man was arrested on Thursday morning at a separate address in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Searches were also carried out in Carmathanshire, Wales, and Brighton, Sussex. Advertisement

Armed police arrested eight people in total following raids on six properties in London and Birmingham as they attempt to find any associates Masood may have had.

They included a woman in east London; a man and a woman arrested in Birmingham; and a woman and three men arrested at a separate location in Birmingham.

In addition, a man was arrested on Thursday morning at a third address in Birmingham.

All were arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Their ages range from 21 to 58.

Searches were also carried out in Carmathanshire, Wales, and Brighton, Sussex.

Earlier today, Middle East terror group ISIS claimed responsibility for the terror attack.

In a statement, they said: 'The attacker yesterday in front of the British Parliament in London was a soldier of the Islamic State executing the operation in response to calls to target citizens of coalition nations.'

ISIS is currently being squeezed in its stronghold of Syria and has previously urged jihadists around the world to attack people in their own countries rather than travel to join them.

Experts believe Masood did not receive direct orders or help from ISIS but may have been inspired to carry out the attack by material online.

Masood is also thought to have lived in London and there was a police presence outside Lucia Heights block of flats, in East London (close to the London Stadium) tonight

Police are believed to be raiding the East London property in connection with yesterday's terror attack in Westminster

Worshippers at the Al-Tawhid mosque in Leyton were surprised to learn of Masood's alleged links with the mosque

A police forensics team combed the scene of the attack today as they mount a huge investigation into what happened

Officers on their hands and knees carried out a search across Parliament Square as properties were raided in Birmingham

Police teams carried out fingertip searches of the area this morning to gather potential evidence in the investigation

The Hyundai Tucson used to run down pedestrians during the attack was hired from this outlet in Birmingham's Spring Hill

These pictures are understood to show the inside of a Birmingham flat which was raided by police before it was let out

Neighbours said lots of people moved in and out of the building and the area and were uncertain over who lived there

The flat is one of six properties raided around the country, with armed officers storming the flat before detectives moved in

Dozens of officers, some with weapons, were seen swooping an address near to the Bearwood area of the city last night

What's happening in the investigation? :: Anti-terror officers arrested eight people, and several addresses were raided overnight in London and Birmingham :: Detectives are continuing to search a number of addresses linked to the investigation, including one in Carmarthenshire, three in Birmingham and one in east London :: Searches at addresses in Brighton and south east London have concluded :: Investigators are working on the basis that the attacker acted alone :: Car firm Enterprise confirmed the Hyundai used in the attack was one of its vehicles :: Islamic State claimed the killer was one of its 'soldiers' :: A review of security arrangements at Westminster has been launched Advertisement

The attack had echoes of the atrocities in Nice and Berlin when trucks ploughed into crowds of people, killing 86 people in the French Riviera city last July and 12 at a market in the German capital just days before Christmas.

He was not on an MI5 list of 3,000 people thought to be capable of mounting an attack, The Guardian reported.

The details of Masood's background will raise questions over what security officials knew about the assailant and what decisions were taken when he first appeared on the radar.

Shashank Joshi, senior research fellow at security think tank the Royal United Services Institute, said: 'We have always known that it is exceptionally hard to understand who will become a terrorist.

'Masood is unusual in that only a minority become radicalised over the age of 30.

'His criminal record is unsurprising, as some studies shows that a significant proportion of jihadists have had prior convictions.'

Speaking to the BBC, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'All I can tell you is what the police have said so far, which is that he was someone known to them but that he was on the periphery of the intelligence agencies.

'I think we'll hear more from them in due course but we have to remember that this man was known to them partially because he had been in jail but not for terrorist offences.'

Scotland Yard, rather than West Midlands Police, is behind the raid, but the force has not spoken due to 'operational reasons'

A police officer is seen at the scene on Hagley Road in Birmingham. Police are on high alert after the terror attack in London on Wednesday which claimed the lives of three victims

Three people and the attacker died in London on Wednesday afternoon after a man driving a Hyundai 4x4 crashed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before hurtling towards the gates of Parliament

Police officers enter the property on Hagley Road in Birmingham. Witnesses in the area said three people had been detained

The road, which has a number of takeaways and restaurants, is said to have been closed at 11pm and reopened by 2am

West Midlands Police gave a short statement which read: 'There is an ongoing police operation, no further details are being given at this stage'

Speaking this morning, Mark Rowley, the Met's senior anti-terror officer, said: 'Hundreds of detectives have been working through the night and during that time I can confirm we have searched six addresses - and made seven arrests.

'The inquiries in Birmingham, London and other parts of the country continue.

It is still our belief - which continues to be borne out by our investigation - that this attacker acted alone yesterday and was inspired by international terrorism.

'To be explicit - at this stage, we have no specific information about further threats to the public.

'Clearly our investigation is ongoing - developing all the time - and is focused on his motivation, his preparation and associates.

'The large and complicated crime scene remains in place and our work there continues - I would like to thank everyone for their support and patience as we finish this work.'

The scene in Whitehall this morning, where a number of streets are closed off while investigators examine the scene

Forensics experts have been scouring Westminster Bridge for clues following the horrific events of yesterday

Victims: What we know about the four dead and 29 injured Four people - excluding the attacker - were murdered. 29 are injured. Seven critically. Theresa May revealed today that among the injured there were 12 Britons, three French, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Chinese, one Irish, one Italian and two Greeks. The foreign victims are likely to all have been tourists. This is what we know: Husband and father Pc Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death by terrorist at gates of Parliament

Aysha Frade, 43, was on her way to meet her two children, aged eight and 11, when she was killed on Westminster Bridge

Kurt Cochran, 54, from Utah was knocked off bridge and died

A 75-year-old man died tonight

Three French school children are in a critical condition last night. The students are believed to be 15 or 16 and attend the private Lycée Saint-Joseph in Brittany.

The attacker also targeted 13 students from Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire. The university said four were hurt. One had head injuries, another wrist injuries, while two were walking wounded.

A Romanian couple on holiday are also thought to be among the injured. Andrei Burnaz , an engineer in his mid-20s, and Andreea Cristea , his girlfriend, 29, were caught up in the attack.

Five Korean tourists were also reported to be among the injured, one seriously.

A Portuguese man was also hurt in the rampaged

Italian woman was hit by the bumper of the car and had to have an operation to her left leg

Chinese tourist was also hospitalised after being hit by the speeding vehicle and had bone fracture near the shoulder and numerous bruises Advertisement

Pc Keith Palmer, a member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Squad, was killed as he tried to stop Masood at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.

The other confirmed victims are American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, Aysha Frade, 43, a Spanish teacher who had been on a school run, and a 75-year-old man who has not yet been named.

Masood, who was armed with two knives, injured around 40 people as he mowed down pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge before crashing at the railings in front of Parliament.

Bursting through the gate to the Palace of Westminster, he stabbed Pc Palmer before being shot dead by armed officers.

Theresa May visited some of the 29 victims, seven of whom are in a critical condition, in hospital today.

The Prime Minister had earlier led tributes to PC Palmer, a 48-year-old father.

In the House of Commons today she saluted the heroism of police as well as the bravery of ordinary people in the British capital who simply went about their lives in the aftermath of the attack.

She said: 'As I speak, millions will be boarding trains and airplanes to travel to London, and to see for themselves the greatest city on Earth.

'It is in these actions - millions of acts of normality - that we find the best response to terrorism. A response that denies our enemies their victory, that refuses to let them win, that shows we will never give in.'

This evening, multi-faith leaders, residents, tourists, police and politicians gathered at the candlelit vigil in London's Trafalgar Square, which was led by mayor Sadiq Khan. Crowds were told the 'evil and twisted acts of terrorism will be defeated.'

In a statement yesterday Pc Palmer's family said he was a 'wonderful dad and husband, a loving son, brother and uncle' who would be 'deeply missed'.

They said the avid Charlton FC supporter was 'dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous'.

Paying tribute to Pc Palmer, who had served the police for 15 years, Mr Rowley said: 'In Westminster we saw tragic events unfold, and our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones, those who were injured and all those affected by this attack.

'One of those who died today was a police officer, Pc Keith Palmer, a member of our parliamentary and diplomatic protection command. Keith, aged 48, had 15 years' service and was a husband and father.

'He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen.'

Donald Trump was among world leaders to offer their support.

Shortly after 1.30am UK time, the US president tweeted: 'Spoke to UK Prime Minister Theresa May today to offer condolences on the terrorist attack in London. She is strong and doing very well.'

The attack came exactly a year after the Brussels airport atrocity and a day after restrictions were announced on air travel from six countries because of the terror threat.

Multi-faith leaders, residents, tourists, police and politicians gathered at the candlelit vigil in London's Trafalgar Square, which was led by mayor Sadiq Khan

Should ALL officers be armed? Questions over security at landmarks after unarmed officer is killed and it emerges the attacker was shot by a minister's guard

The attack in Westminster has raised questions over whether all police protecting landmark buildings should be armed.

Pc Keith Palmer, who was stabbed and died outside the Houses of Parliament, did not have a weapon and it was other armed officers who shot and killed the attacker.

The policeman who shot the attacker on the parliamentary estate is believed to have been a close protection officer for Defence Secretary Michael Fallon rather than a member of the gate team.

Mr Fallon's ministerial car was parked in New Palace Yard as a vote was taking place in the Commons at the time.

It has also been reported that the gate was open because Acting Police Commissioner Craig Mackey was leaving the Houses of Parliament. Luckily, Mr Mackey was not injured and is now being treated as a witness.

The Hyundai, said the have been rented in Birmingham, crashed in at least 40 pedestrians before crashing into Parliament

After stabbing and killing unarmed PC Keith Palmer in Parliament grounds, he was shot by an armed officer and later died

It is understood the attacker was shot by a bodyguard of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon rather than Parliament police

Former Met firearms officer Roger Gay said Britain may need to move away from the idea of 'traditional' unarmed policeman in important locations.

He told Sky News today: 'In my opinion, I would have all of them in that location, I think, should be armed. What you have there, and I hate to use the term, is perhaps a sacrificial pawn.

'But one wonders if he had a sidearm, would he have been able to react that quickly and, if he had been carrying a carbine then he would be less of the traditional policeman. Perhaps we should let go of that and ratchet it up one notch.'

Speaking on Radio 4 this morning, Defence Secretary Mr Fallon confirmed Parliament's security would now be reviewed.

He said of the attacker: 'They did not get into Parliament. They only got as far as the gate. They did not breach the security of the House of Commons and he gave his life to protect the security of our democracy.

'Parliament cannot be hermetically sealed. People are coming and going all the time.

'There was a division going on at the time, people arriving through the gates either by car or foot, to vote. This is something that will now be reviewed by the House authorities.'

Armed police in Westminster today. The death of unarmed officer has raised questions all police in such locations should have guns

Former Met firearms officer Roger Gay (left) suggested all police around Parliament should be armed. Security expert Raffaello Pantucci (right) said low tech lone wolf attacks are extremely difficult to prevent

Security experts have pointed out that 'low-tech' lone wolf attacks are extremely difficult to prevent.

Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, said: 'It's always been the case that going out and getting a car or a knife is far easier than building a device like a bomb.

'Incidents such as Lee Rigby are examples of this. Other terrorists could be inspired by this and it's becoming the acceptable way of doing things. It's certainly something that could be copied.'

He added: 'If you haven't told anyone what you are doing, police are going to find it harder to stop you.

'But what is worrying is a trend of lone wolves who carry out the attacks alone, but gain ideas or weapons from other terrorists before they do so.'

Just days ago a suspected terrorist was shot dead at Orly airport in Paris after trying to grab a gun from a security official.

Forensic officers search the road on their knees next to Westminster Abbey this morning as investigations continue

Police officers paying their respects to fallen colleague Keith Palmer at the National Police Memorial today

Mr Pantucci said: 'Obviously we are on high alert, but we have been on high alert for some time. What has been happening with banning laptops on planes makes that clear.'

Reflecting on the reaction of the police, Mr Pantucci said: 'From what we have seen it appears the police shut down the operation very quickly.

'It could be that more bollards are placed outside Parliament to prevent this sort of thing happening again, but is is difficult to know when to stop putting bollards in.'

Theresa Villiers, the former Northern Ireland secretary, suggested the issue of whether police who patrol areas 'known to be of interest to terrorists' should carry a weapon for personal protection should now be examined.

Ms Villiers said: 'As we reflect on what happened, is it time to consider whether the police who guard sensitive sites known to be of interest to terrorists like Parliament or like airports should routinely carry personal protection weapons, even when those officers are not part of the units formally tasked with armed response?'