ISIS heartthrob? Schoolmates of Texas gunman describe ISIS terrorist as charismatic

Nadir Soofi attended a prestigious Pakistani private school before moving to the United States.

Nadir Soofi, the Texas ISIS shooter, was described as a charismatic young "ladies man," while attending an elite Pakistani school. Due to the tight knit relationships he held with people in his former community, many were shocked to learn of his involvement with the shooting during the controversial Prophet Mohammed cartoon drawing contest in Texas. At the age of 34, Soofi and Elton Simpson were shot and killed by police as the event turned chaotic.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - According to Yahoo News, Soofi was a student at the Pakistani school from 1992 to 1998, where tuition was about $20,000 a year.

"Whatever fundo [fundamentalist] indoctrination occurred, [it] happened after he graduated and moved to USA -- here he was simply a cool kid with a bright future," said one of his peers from the International School of Islamabad in a statement with AFP.

Speaking under the agreement of anonymity, his peers spoke of him as a charismatic teenage heartthrob who they never thought would be someone to join the extremist group.

He was popular during his time with students at the school that hosts rich kids with tight security. However, Soofi was able to attend the prestigious school without paying tuition because his mom was an art teacher.

Nevertheless, he grew up comfortably with a well-off family.

Young Soofi played the lead role in a play based on Elvis, which earned him more popularity and the nickname Mr. Elvis.

"I had noticed on Facebook that he had become Islamic but never thought to such extremes," said another of his peers whom admitted being shocked upon hearing the news.

Soofi also had businesses that he managed, making them think he was skipping religious activities at some point. Although ISIS claims responsibility for the Texas attack, there is still no solid link.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online