Lockdown risks of terror recruiters

Mother’s fear over terror recruitment

CRIME: Lockdown risks presenting “rich pickings” for terror recruiters, with vulnerable children susceptible to radicalisation, the mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has said.

Figen Murray warned “the sense of doom” around Covid-19 played into the hands of jihadi and far-right extremists.

LOCKDOWN RISKS presenting “rich pickings” for terror recruiters, with vulnerable children susceptible to radicalisation through spending more time online away from adult supervision, the mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett has said.

Figen Murray warned “the sense of apocalyptic doom” around Covid-19 played into the hands of jihadi and far-right extremists, comparing their befriending of children to sex offenders “grooming” victims.

She was speaking ahead of today’s third anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, which Mrs Murray said she was “struggling” with due to strict social-distancing rules preventing grieving families, friends and survivors from coming together.

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured hundreds more when he detonated his explosive device as thousands of men, women and children left an Ariana Grande concert at the arena, on May 22, 2017.

His brother, Hashem, was convicted of murder and conspiracy at the Old Bailey in March. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Among those killed were Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Adel, Leeds; Courtney Boyle, 19, a Leeds Beckett University student from Gateshead; Kelly Brewster, 32, from Sheffield; Wendy Fawell, 50, from Otley; and Angelika and Marcin Klis, a couple from York.

Discussing the risks of radicalisation, Mrs Murray said: “Unfortunately the pandemic and the sense of apocalyptic doom and the ‘end of the world’ feeds into a narrative of jihadist terrorism and far-right ideology. Terrorist

I am sure terrorists are using this lockdown period to recruit.

Figen Murray, the mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett.

recruiters are no different to sexual predators, they ‘befriend’ people, pretend to be the age of the child, get them into a position of ‘friendship’ and literally groom them. At the moment they have rich pickings – a lot more children are online for school work and for gaming because they cannot go to school.

“I am sure terrorists are using this lockdown period to recruit as many people as possible. People must not believe terrorism has gone away.”

Mrs Murray has spent the time since her son’s death visiting schools, colleges and universities to discuss radicalisation in an attempt to prevent young people being drawn into extremism.

She said teachers “will need to be very observant” to the signs of potential radicalisation, and engage the Government’s Prevent counter-terror strategy.

This year’s anniversary has already caused fresh upset, with social-distancing measures putting a halt on mass gatherings.

It means Manchester Cathedral will have to broadcast two services on its Facebook page, urging people to log on at home rather than attend in person.

Mrs Murray said her son’s family and friends will join a group chat on video conferencing app Zoom, raising a toast to the 29-year-old PR manager. She added: “Zoom will do this year. Since the pandemic, we have all had to adapt and I think that shows how strong the human spirit is.”

A public inquiry into the blast is due to begin in September.