Gangs recruit jihad fighters

Members of London street gangs have been involved in recruiting, indoctrinating and financing young Britons who want to join jihad groups in Somalia.

A small core of Islamist radicals in Somali-dominated gangs has organised travel, money and contacts for would-be jihadis to join alShabaab, the al Qaedaaffiliated terrorist group that is trying to establish a Sharia state in East Africa.

British Prime Minister David Cameron appealed yesterday to Somali youth to reject jihad and gang culture to help to rebuild their homeland. ‘‘The threat to our national security is growing,’’ Cameron said. ‘‘Young people are being poisoned by radicalism. The problem in Somalia can only be solved by the people of Somalia. But our national interest is clear: we can’t just let all this carry on. There are many Somalis who have made their home in this country. We can’t build peace without them.’’

War-torn Somalia, the future of which will be discussed at an international conference hosted by Cameron in London today, has become the destination of choice for young British jihadis. Somalia is easier to reach than the al Qaeda camps in the Pakistani tribal areas and less prone to American drone attacks. World leaders fear that the country has the potential to spawn international terrorism if fighters trained there return to the West to carry out attacks.