UK terror suspect’s acquaintances express shock, found him a “nice person”

OTTAWA - Neighbours and acquaintances of Britisher Dr. Khurram Syed Sher, who auditioned in Montreal for season six of the television reality show Canadian Idol, have expressed shock over a revelation that he is a terror suspect.

The Globe and Mail quoted a next-door-neighbour of Dr. Sher, as saying the man seemed “very friendly and very nice.”

“I am very surprised. This is a wonderful neighbourhood, and, he seemed to be very friendly. I just can’t believe it,” she added.

Dr. Chantal Bernard, Pathology Program Director for residency training at McGill University, claimed that Dr. Sher completed his medical training and residency at McGill, including medical school.

“He did all his training under the umbrella of McGill. Everyone here is quite in shock and surprised,” she said.

The doctor was reportedly born and raised in Montreal, is a father and a doctor at a Montreal hospital.

Sher auditioned in Montreal for season six of the television show Canadian Idol. In a YouTube video of the 2008 audition, he is seen to be singing one of Avril Lavigne’s songs “Complicated” and told judges that he belonged to Pakistan and has been in Canada since 2005.

Commenters on the video, who claim to know the suspect, say Sher auditioned as a joke.

The other two suspects are Hiva Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed.

For the moment, Alizadeh is a man of mystery, but seems to be the most significant of three suspects arrested following a sweeping counterterrorism probe, the paper reported.

Defence lawyers have said they are only now getting to know their clients now.

“We’re just getting to meet him for the time, he seems to be taking the matter seriously. He’s been charged with some serious offences,” said Sean May, acting for Mr. Alizadeh.

A lawyer said he couldn’t say whether his client had a family or a job. (ANI)