London Bridge terrorist’s wife had ‘no idea’ about attack
THE wife of fanatic Rachid Redouane “had no idea” he was going on a killing spree, a friend revealed yesterday.
Friends of the attacker's estranged wife told how she 'hated' him
The Moroccan-born murderer, who was refused asylum to the UK under a different name eight years ago, visited his 18-month-old daughter Amina just hours before the van and knife attack near London Bridge.
Friends of the 30-year-old’s estranged wife, Charisse O’Leary, today told how she “hated” her pastrychef husband, who she married in 2012.
A former colleague at an Essex care home said: “She hated him in the end. He was a horrible person. She didn’t say what happened but it seemed like it was domestic violence.”
Redouane was refused asylum in the UK in 2009 using the name “Rachid Elkhdar”, claiming he was five years younger than his actual age.
In 2012, he married UK citizen Charisse and in 2014, under the name Rachid Redouane, he applied for an Irish visa under EU rules, moving to the UK in October 2016.
The couple split over his hardline Islamist views and clashed over how he wanted to raise their daughter.
Charisse O'Leary, Rachid Redouane's estranged wife
Seven people were killed in the London Bridge terror attack
Forty-eight people were injured in Saturday night's attack
Charisse reportedly told a friend: “I just didn’t agree with what he wanted.
“He didn’t want Amina to eat pork or go to dance classes. He didn’t want her watching things on TV either in case it made her ‘gay’.”
The UK's terror threat level remains at severe
Charisse was one of 12 arrested and released without charge during a series of dawn raids in Barking, east London, on Sunday morning.
A friend said: “I’ve known her for a few years and she is a brilliant mother. She had no idea what was going on.”
Charles and Camilla visit victims of London bridge terror attack
Neighbours told how Redouane visited his daughter at Charisse’s home just hours before Saturday’s attack.
The 30-year-old jihadist, who had not appeared on any terror watch lists, was finally gunned down by police as he tried to stab bystanders in Borough Market.