Samantha Lewthwaite

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lewthwaite was born to parents Andrew and Elizabeth Christine Lewthwaite in Banbridge, County Down in 1983. Her father, a former British Army soldier who served in the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, met her mother while stationed in Northern Ireland. The family lived briefly in Northern Ireland before settling in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where she attended The Elmhurst School and The Grange School. She started a Bachelors degree in Politics and Religion at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, but dropped out. Her parents separated in 1994, and friends reported she sought solace from Muslim neighbours. Born a Christian, by age 17 she converted to Islam, adopting the name Sherafiyah. She met Germaine Lindsay on the Internet and married him on 30 October 2002 using Islamic names. On 7 July 2005, Lindsay blew himself up on a train between King's Cross and Russell Square, killing 26 civilians. Lewthwaite, eight months pregnant with their second child, reported him missing six days later and denied prior knowledge, saying: 'I totally condemn and am horrified by the atrocities... My whole world has fallen apart.' In September 2005, she sold her story to The Sun for £30,000, portraying herself as a victim and her husband as a 'relatively recent convert' tricked by extremists. The Independent reported her account conflicted with evidence from Lindsay's sister that he converted at 15.

Reader's Guide

Lewthwaite is alleged to be a member of the Somalia-based radical Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab. She is accused of orchestrating grenade attacks at non-Muslim places of worship and believed to have been behind an attack on those watching football in a bar in Mombasa during Euro 2012. In September 2013, there was speculation over her possible involvement in the Nairobi Westgate shopping mall attack, though other reports cast doubt or said her role was exaggerated. In February 2012, Kenyan police issued an arrest warrant for a white woman using the false name Natalie Faye Webb, who used a fraudulently obtained South African passport. The photograph bore 'a strong likeness to Samantha Lewthwaite'. Police said she was wanted for links to an Al-Shabaab cell planning attacks in Kenya. Alfred Mutua, Kenyan Government Spokesperson, said: 'We believe she is a collaborator with terrorists... she helped to fundraise, helped in the acquisition of weapons, hiding people, transporting people.' The real Natalie Webb was an English nurse who was a victim of identity theft. South African Minister Naledi Pandor stated the passport was fraudulently acquired in Durban, and Lewthwaite first entered South Africa in July 2008, travelling in and out on several occasions. Using the Natalie Webb identity, she worked as an IT specialist at a halal meat factory in Lenasia, Johannesburg, and lived in rented properties in Mayfair and Bromhof. By 2022, Lewthwaite had not been heard of for many years.

Did You Know?

• Lewthwaite was dubbed the 'White Widow' by news media, a play on words referencing her race and the death of her first husband, and the practice of referring to Chechen female suicide bombers as 'Black Widows'.
• She sold her story to The Sun for £30,000 in September 2005, portraying herself as a victim, which drew criticism from victims' families and The Yorkshire Post, which said the spirit of the law against criminals profiting from their crimes had been breached.
• Kenyan police issued an arrest warrant for Lewthwaite in February 2012 after she used a fraudulently obtained South African passport under the name Natalie Faye Webb—the real Natalie Webb was an English nurse who was a victim of identity theft.
• Lewthwaite first entered South Africa in July 2008 and, using the Natalie Webb identity, worked as an IT specialist at a halal meat factory in Lenasia, Johannesburg.
• By 2022, Lewthwaite had not been heard of for many years, leaving her status unknown.