Richard Reed's Path to Radicalization

Richard Reed, also known as the shoe bomber, was a socially isolated individual with a troubled upbringing. Growing up as a mixed-race child from a fractured home, he struggled to fit in at school and in society. He found solace and a sense of belonging in Islam after converting while in prison. Reed became more devout, and his radicalization was fueled by a combination of feeling alienated, a strong critique of Western imperialism, and exposure to extremist ideologies at the Finsbury Park mosque. This sense of purpose and identity provided through radical Islam offered him a way to escape his feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness.