The Westminster attacker - 52-year-old Khalid Masood - had a range of previous convictions but none terrorism-related.
Islamic State has claimed Masood - whose birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao - was one of its "soldiers".
He "carried out the operation in answer to calls to target the people of coalition states", the terror group said.
According to a Sky source who met him in a professional capacity, he had a wife and three children.
The source described Masood as "a big bloke", adding: "He looked like he was a bodybuilder, (you) wouldn't want to mess with him."
He added that Masood was a "very religious, well-spoken man", who had "converted" to Islam.
"You couldn't go to his home in Birmingham on Friday because he would be at prayer," the source said.
According to reports Masood had previously worked as an English teacher, though not in any of England's state schools.
Some reports suggested he had spent four years in Saudi Arabia, leading to speculation he may have been radicalised there.
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Police said Masood had been "known by a number of aliases".
While he was born in Kent on Christmas Day 1964, detectives believe he had been living most recently in the West Midlands.
His name is also registered as living at addresses in Brighton, Eastbourne, Luton and London.
A neighbour at his most recent address in Winson Green, Birmingham, said Masood was a keen gardener who had a wife and young child.
The neighbour said her experience of him was of a "nice man".
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said there was "no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack".
:: Timeline of terror in London
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