A VIDEO of a Hounslow suicide bomber calling Israeli people "sickos" has been released by Palestinian militant group Hamas, almost 11 months after the attack that left four people dead.
Asif Hanif, formerly of Lela Avenue, detonated a bomb outside a bar in Tel Aviv, Israel, which claimed the lives of two waitresses and a musician and left over 20 people seriously wounded. Hanif was also killed by the blast.
His partner in the attack, Omar Khan Sharif, 27, from Derby, failed to detonate his bomb and fled the scene. His body washed up on a beach a few weeks later.
The video, shot a short time before the pair set off on their mission', was released on Monday by Hamas to mark the anniversary of the death of one of their leaders, Ibrahim al-Maqadma, who was killed in a missile attack.
Hanif, 21, is shown clutching an AK-47 automatic rifle and dressed in battle fatigues with the infamous green bandanna of Hamas suicide bombers across his forehead.
The video of the pair is unique in that the two men speak predominantly in English. Previously released tapes have shown bombers speaking in Arabic and largely quoting from the Koran.
Hanif, a former student at Cranford Community College, went on to explain the motives behind the attack. He said: "What can I say? The real terrorists are these Israelis. They're really sickos."
He also prayed for the destruction of Tony Blair and George Bush: "I wish for Almighty God either to guide them, or for his wrath to come down upon them."
People from Hanif's past appear to have been unaware of his extremist views and are still left unable to understand his actions.
A council spokesperson, speaking on behalf of his former school, said: "Asif Mohammed Hanif attended Cranford Community College from September 1992 until July 2000.
"Asif did well in his studies and was a well liked pupil. Following a course in Business Studies, he subsequently went on to study at the University of Damascus. The news of his involvement came as a shock."
It is believed that the trip to Damascus was the turning point for Hanif, who had previously attended meetings of the Light Study' Sufi Muslim group. The international group, with its UK base in Hounslow, is strongly opposed to violence.
Hanif also attended Hounslow mosque. A spokesman for the mosque, on Wellington Road South, said: "He prayed here but we were not aware of his activities. There is nothing more to say."
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