Asylum seekers in hotels could be recruited by Islamist group

RADICAL groups could target hotels housing asylum seekers as recruitment grounds, counter-extremism officials fear.

Officials in Stoke-on-Trent have become concerned about the resurgence of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a group that promotes the creation of an Islamic State and is banned in more than a dozen countries but not in the UK.

The group has been holding sessions in a converted warehouse a short walk from two hotels in the Midlands city and sources said that they feared the proximity would provide individuals with extreme, but not illegal, views “easy access” to vulnerable migrants.

It is understood that at meetings with police and council officials working on Prevent, the Government’s counterterrorism strategy, attendees discussed the group’s activities and raised concerns about whether asylum seekers could be exploited.

“There have been informed conversations with Prevent teams about the issue,” a source said. “There is a fear when they are operating that close, they have easy access and vice versa. We want to avoid the risk of a tinderbox between extremists and the far-Right who are also operating in the city.”

Another community source said that Hizb ut-Tahrir had been active a number of years ago before going under the radar but they were alarmed they had re-emerged in the city.

Farak Mohammed, the organiser of the events, also runs a gym and martial arts centre within a few hundred feet of one of the hotels, which The Sunday Telegraph is choosing not to name.

The gym, attended by children, has been promoting events and propaganda of the group.

Mr Mohammed urged those who disagreed with the group’s views to “come down and talk to us”.

He added: “We will sit down and explain our views. Hizb ut Tahrir is not