Islamic State executioner Jihadi John managed to escape from Britain by hiding in the back of a freight lorry on a ferry crossing the Channel , it has been claimed . The 26-year-old , who has been named as Mohammed Emwazi , a university graduate from Queen 's Park , London , was able to flee to Syria despite being on an MI5 watchlist and being monitored by Scotland Yard 's counter-terrorism command . Now the Home Office could face fresh questions over border controls after it is thought that Emwazi used a well-worn route to leave the UK . Scroll down for video . It has been claimed that Mohammed Emwazi , who has been named as ISIS executioner Jihadi John , escaped from Britain by hiding on the back of a lorry . The extremist reportedly hid in the vehicle as it crossed the channel before being taken to Turkey . File photo . A source told The Times that the extremist hid in a lorry , which crossed the Channel on a ferry to France and that he was then able to travel across Europe unchecked until he reached Turkey . They added that he passed through the Turkish border with ease and then continued his journey to Syria to join up with ISIS in early 2013 . Emwazi has been on the radar of MI5 since May 2009 , when it is thought he tried to reach Somalia to join Islamist terror group al-Shabaab . He was stopped with two associates in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania , where he told officials they were en route to a safari . Lee Rigby 's killer Michael Adebolajo was picked up by the SAS and MI5 in similar fashion as he tried to enter the east African country in November 2010 . Emwazi , pictured , has been on the radar of MI5 since May 2009 , when it is thought he tried to reach Somalia to join Islamist terror group al-Shabaab . After being detained by police and held overnight and deported , Emwazi flew to Amsterdam , before being returned to the UK . He claimed that an officer from MI5 accused him of trying to reach Somalia and that they even tried to recruit him to join the organisation . He claimed he was harassed by the security services , and even complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission . Emwazi was then placed on a terror watch list , which prevented him from travelling to any Muslim country . The Home Office are already facing questions after it emerged between 2009 and 2010 , Emwazi travelled between London and Kuwait at least twice . In June 2010 , he was detained by counter-terrorism officials in Britain who fingerprinted him and searching his belongings . The next day – to Emwazi ’ s fury , given he claimed to have a job and bride-to-be in Kuwait – he was prevented from flying . A possible attempt to leave London for Saudi Arabia in 2012 was also blocked . But after managing to leave Britain for Syria , he has gained global notoriety as the masked killer of Western hostages including British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines in ISIS beheading videos which have shocked the world . Emwazi was born in Kuwait to a stateless family of Iraqi origin . His parents moved to Britain in 1993 after their hopes of obtaining Kuwaiti citizenship were quashed . Meanwhile , Emwazi 's father , Jasem Emwazi , has said he is not sure that his son is masked ISIS butcher Jihadi John , according to his lawyer . The 51-year-old feels there is 'no proof ' that the black-clad knife-wielding man featured in chilling hostage execution videos is his eldest child , it was reported today . His Kuwaiti lawyer , Salem Al-Hashah , told Kuwait 's respected Al-Qabas newspaper : 'He is not sure that he [ Jihadi John ] is his son . 'There is no proof that the man shown in the videos and photographs is his son , as the media has reported in the last few days . ' He added : 'There is no evidence that Mohammed is the man in the videos because his face was covered . ' Jasem Emwazi , the father of Mohammed Emwazi , who has said that he is not sure that his son is the masked ISIS butcher Jihadi John . The lawyer 's comments appear to contradict earlier remarks made by Mr Emwazi , who is said to have told a colleague that his son is ' a dog , an animal , a terrorist ' and called for him to be killed . Mr Emwazi , who moved to the UK from his native Kuwait in 1994 and holds a British passport , was seen in public for the first time today since he was questioned by Kuwaiti police at the weekend about his son 's activities . Mr Al-Hashah said the father is not responsible for what his son has done and that there is nothing to prove his father agreed with his son , or helped him in any way . The lawyer added : 'Jasem Emwazi is under stress . Many people are calling him names . He ca n't leave his home and ca n't walk outside . He is scared of people because everyone believes all the rumours that have been written about him . ' The Daily Mail revealed yesterday that housing and state benefits for Emwazi 's family since they came to the UK from Kuwait 20 years ago has cost taxpayers £400,000 . After his father returned to Kuwait , other members of his family in Britain have been moved out of their homes for their own protection and are being guarded at a cost of £5,000 a day .
ISIS executioner Jihadi John unmasked as Mohammed Emwazi last week . It is claimed he escaped Britain by hiding in the back of a freight lorry . The lorry then boarded a ferry and crossed the Channel into France . He travelled across Europe unchecked before crossing into Turkey . Emwazi then continued his journey to Syria so he could join up with ISIS . Home Office now facing questions after Emwazi was on an MI5 watchlist .