FAILED bomber Umar Abdulmutallab posed for a photo outside Britain's Buckingham Palace, an iconic symbol of Western wealth. It was also a symbol of power the Nigerian grew to despise, it emerged today.
The terrorist also visited the British Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square, and at age 15 was beginning to adopt the extremist views that would turn him into a potential mass murderer.
At the time of the 2001 school trip to London, Abdulmutallab was known as "The Pope" by classmates at the British International School in Togo because of his "saintly" views.
He already disagreed with Western foreign policy, a view that would be radicalised a few years later while studying for an engineering degree in London.
A former teacher, Briton Michael Rimmer, revealed that in a 2001 discussion about the Taliban Abdulmutallab defended their actions, then excused his radical views saying he was playing devil's advocate.
Rimmer also revealed how Abdulmutallab chose to give £50 (A$90) to an orphanage rather than spend it on souvenirs.
"His nickname was 'The Pope.' In one way it's totally unsuitable because he's Muslim, but he did have this saintly aura.
"He was a good-looking guy, bright, from a good family and heading for a job in a top profession. Somewhere along the line he met fanatics and they turned his mind," he said.
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