Daily Star

Yp E8;@E< C@E><

<O:CLJ@M<

-

TERRORISTS are trying to recruit young children through their Xboxes, the Daily Star can reveal.

They are targeting gamers who use headsets on the Xbox Live network to talk to people all over the world – without really knowing who they are.

Xbox Live was developed by Microsoft so gamers across the world can compete with each other. Players communicat­e via message or headsets linked to their consoles.

And Brit kids are being trained in schools to recognise the warning signs of an extremist trying to groom them via the network.

Four years ago, Islamic State even created their own version of popular game Grand Theft Auto to lure in youngsters, featuring their fighters killing enemies to the sound of religious music.

Fanatics are also infiltrati­ng young people’s social media, posing as friends of friends on sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to make contact.

But it’s not just Islamist extremists using these platforms – far-right groups are also trying to brainwash youngsters.

Dominic Meir, who runs a workshop aimed at teaching kids to recognise and avoid radicalisa­tion, says: “In the old days, extremists would be outside school gates with leaflets.

“But now they use the internet. And you don’t even need to leave your room to be radicalise­d.” He has also seen how using headsets on the Xbox Live network has introduc young people to extremists.

“From about 2013, there was a rise in t use of headsets for online games,” explains.

“That meant young people would co across people with very harsh views on ra and religion on their consoles. It’s be growing and growing and becoming issue.

Attack

“I’ve worked with people whose family h been arrested for a religious hate cri because they got talking to someone throu online gaming.

“That person persuaded them the rig thing to do was attack a mosque.”

Dominic’s Reveal Theatre project is back by the Home Office, whose Preve programme aims to tackle terrorism a radicalisa­tion by teaching people how recognise and avoid it.

The Daily Star joined Dominic and c league Darnell Shakespear­e at a worksh with Year 10 students in Brixton, south L don. They use games, videos and real-l

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom