[Mb-civic] Friends Describe Bomber's Political, Religious Evolution - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

<>Friends Describe Bomber's Political, Religious Evolution
22-Year-Old Grew Up Loving Western Ways And Wanting for Little

By Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 29, 2005; Page A16

LEEDS, England -- The day before Shehzad Tanweer strapped on a backpack 
filled with explosives and made his way into London, he took part in a 
cherished British pastime: a pickup soccer match in a park here.

It was a ritual he carried out most days, if he wasn't playing cricket. 
Whites, blacks, Asians -- everyone in the neighborhood would come out. 
For a couple of hours, they would forget their races, religions and 
prejudices and play only as Britons.

On that day, Tanweer's black hair was showing some fashionable brown 
streaks, recalled several friends who were there. Apart from that, there 
was nothing unusual about him -- not a sign that he would soon be killed 
by a bomb he carried onto a London subway train.

"He was laughing and joking like normal," said Saeed Ahmed, 29, downcast 
eyes reflecting the shock that still lingers.

<>Of the four men investigators have concluded were the London bombers, 
Tanweer, 22, seemed the most unlikely to commit such a fanatical act 
against the nation where he was born and bred, friends said. He seemed 
to enjoy everything British and Western, and had the means to do so.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/28/AR2005072801991.html?nav=hcmodule 

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