Everyone who knew Sajid Badat growing up in Gloucester, or studying at an Islamic college in Blackburn, considered him a devout Muslim — he was even described as a “walking angel” — who looked likely to become an imam or scholar.

The well-respected young man lived with his parents in Gloucester and earlier this month led a prayer session at his local mosque.

So it came as a huge shock when the 24-year-old was arrested in an early morning raid by anti-terrorist officers and questioned about possible suicide attacks in Britain. David Blunkett announced that MI5 and Special Branch believe the British-born Asian man had connections with the Al-Qaeda network.

To add to the Muslim community’s trauma, bomb squad officers said they discovered explosives inside the terraced house where Badat lived with his family.

His parents, Zubeda and Mohammed Badat, were in a police safe house the other night along with their other son and two daughters after their home on St. James Street was sealed off during Thursday’s huge police operation.

An unnamed cousin said: “This has come as a complete shock. Sajid is nothing more than a sociable young lad. He has lots of friends and doesn’t hold extreme views. The whole family is very upset and have no idea why the police have targeted him.” His father, a carpenter, and mother, emigrated to Gloucester about 30 years ago from Malawi in southern Africa. Born on 28 March 1979 at Gloucester Maternity Hospital Sajid Badat was a bright boy who did well at St. James’s Primary School and went on to the city’s Crypt Grammar School where he gained four A-Levels and 10 GCSEs. An ardent football fan, he supports Liverpool and used to play for a Sunday league team called the Asian Stars.

Throughout his upbringing, his Muslim faith has always been central to his life. He was well known at the Masjid-e-Noor mosque in Ryecroft Street in Gloucester.

Abdul Jaffer, the owner of a butcher’s, said he had known Badat all his life and he had gone to school with his son Mohammed.

Jaffer said: “He was a very intelligent boy who always spoke out if something was wrong. He was a very bright lad who respected things and people.

“When he grew up he told people to stay away from the streets.” Of the arrest he added: “Straightaway I said it can’t be. I still believe he is innocent. He’s a walking angel.

“He respected me and used to teach lots of boys how to dress in the Muslim way and how to be in a mosque. He always wanted to learn more about Islam.” Two years ago, at the age of 22, Badat moved a step closer to achieving his aim of becoming an Imam when he went to study at the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn, Lancashire.

He boarded at the college and shared a room with five other Islamic students. A world map and two pictures of mosques adorned the walls of the room, which police have searched along with Badat’s college locker.

Daily prayers take place in a large room on the ground floor of the school.

The head of the school, Abdus Samed Ahmed, said that he was shocked at news of the arrest.

He said: “I was stunned to find a former student has been allegedly linked with Al-Qaeda. “We have a thorough and normal vetting process at the school and Badat passed the checks. We have been here seven years and have an excellent relationship with the local council, police and other key agencies.” Badat was enrolled on a five-year course but he left this summer of his own accord, the head said. He was known as a bright but very quiet student.

He recently traveled to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for the Haj. This was one of several trips to Pakistan during which he enrolled as a student in madrassas,

the Islamic schools, possibly in Peshawar, a city with strong Al-Qaeda links.

He quickly came to the notice of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), the Pakistani secret police who could find no intrinsic family or social links to the places he was visiting.

At about the same time MI5 and Scotland Yard were investigating possible links with Richard Reid, the British Muslim who was sentenced to 110 years plus three life sentences in January for trying to bring down an American Airlines Paris to Miami jet carrying 197 passengers in December 2001. Reid, 30, a self-confessed Al-Qaeda member, tried to ignite explosives hidden in the sole of his training shoes but was overpowered by the crew.

MI5 turned their attention to Badat, about whom they became increasingly suspicious, and placed him under surveillance.

Further suspicions were raised at the discovery that Badat has worshiped at the Finsbury Park mosque and one in Brixton where Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 9/11 twentieth hijacker, were fellow worshipers.

The security operation climaxed on Thursday morning when at 6.30 anti-terrorist officers raided Badat’s home and arrested their suspect.