Snuff out sparks of extremist ideology

EVER since the 7/7 bombings in 2005, we’ve known British Muslims are being radicalised for terrorist attacks.

I know from experience how this can happen.

I wanted to find out more about Islam but soon found myself in the trappings of Islamist extremism.

I even found myself in clandestine meetings at Finsbury Park mosque — at one point talking about planting a bomb in London.

Fortunately, I saw the light before it was too late, but others do not.

Young people, in particular, are being exploited online.

Previously, recruiters and their targets would have to meet. But the internet allows anonymity.

What we can do is look for early signs of radicalisation.

Someone who has become more withdrawn could be a dangerous indicator. If it’s a young person still at school, they may skip classes.

They may suddenly adopt a religious style of dress. Of course, not everyone who looks like this is an extremist, but unfortunately abrupt changes in dress can be a sign of indoctrination.

If you see the signs, you need someone who can help the exploited individual.

And it needs to be someone who deeply understands Islamist extremism. That could even be a local prevention officer — experts who tackle radicalisation.

Organisations such as my own, Quilliam, can help.

If it’s gone as far as you suspecting someone of some sort of terrorist activity, then inform the police.

What’s the long-term answer?

We need to tackle the problem of radicalisation of people in prisons. Extremists should be isolated from other inmates.

But to win the battle, the Muslim community needs to address the ideas of Islam that are frequently twisted by the extremists.

At the moment, we are reporting someone only if we suspect they are about to carry out an offence.

That’s just firefighting. What we need to do is snuff out the sparks before they develop into a flame.