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‘Leeds in list of top 25 terror hotspots’
LEEDS has been named as one of the UK’s potential terror hotspots.
Areas of the city were among 25 boroughs and neighbourhoods most at risk from Islamist extremism, according to a new report released last night to relaunch the Goverment’s revised anti-extremism project Prevent.
Parts of Bradford, London, Birmingham and Manchester were also named in the 140-page document launched by Home Secretary Theresa May.
Extra funds will now be made available to councils to “address specific local risks”, according to the report.
Leeds’s name became permanently linked with the terror threat when four men led by Mohammed Siddique Khan – and with connections to Beeston and Holbeck – were found to be the perpetrators of the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
Mrs May admitted yesterday that money from the £63 million-a-year Prevent budget – designed to support mainstream Muslim groups which offer an alternative to extremism – had been given to groups that promote hardline beliefs.
The new document says the Government will ensure that no more cash will be given “to organisations that hold extremist views or support terrorist-related activity of any kind”.
It is understood about 20 organisations will have their funding cut.
The Government has also identified 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” of radicalisation or recruitment on campus.
Mrs May has previously criticised universities for their “complacency” in tackling extremism.
The report was broadly welcomed by counter-extremism think-tank Quilliam, although executive director Maajid Nawaz said parts of it were “muddled” and could unnecessarily “smear” ordinary Muslims.
“It is good that the Government has recognised that extremism lies at the root of terrorism and that extremism must be tackled as a result,” he said.
“[But} its definition of Islamism is so broad that it fails to distinguish between Islamists and politically active Muslims inspired by Islam.
“This unnecessarily smears ordinary politically-active Muslims and works to the favour of Islamists who benefit from hiding behind such blurred distinctions.”
The Government is also considering a “national blocking list” of violent and unlawful websites.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
