"Young Muslims turning to extremism"

Extremists are winning the battle for

the hearts and minds of Britain's young

Muslims, a disturbing police report warns.

**

Increasing numbers have become so

alienated from mainstream society

that they could even lend their support

to jihadi terrorism, the study claims.
While most reject violence, many distrust

police and are reluctant to inform on extremists.
The report was commissioned by the

Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo)

after last year's failed bomb attacks in
London's West End and at Glasgow Airport.

It is to be discussed at Acpo's annual

conference this week.

**

The study, entitled Hearts and Minds

and Eyes and Ears: Reducing Radicalisation

Risks Through Reassurance Orientated

Policing, warns that "the threat to the

UK from jihadist terrorism may increase

in the future".
It concludes: "Increasing numbers of

young Muslim people are becoming sufficiently

disaffected with their lives in liberal-democratic

-capitalist societies that they might be willing

to support violent terrorism to articulate their

disillusionment and disengagement."

**

Across Britain, the security services have said

they are tracking 2,000 individuals suspected

of having links to terrorism, investigating 200

networks and monitoring 30 plots.

**
Professor Innes's report warns that Islamist

terror groups are increasingly operating

away from traditional Muslim areas, and

are seeking new ways to radicalise vulnerable

young people. It comes as police investigate

alleged terror plots in Exeter and Bristol.

**

A poll last year by Populus found that

13 per cent of Muslims aged 16 to 24

"admire organisations like al-Qa'eda that

are prepared to fight the West".

**

He told The Telegraph: "Within Muslim

communities there are those people

completely against the means and aims

of terrorism, and there are those in favour.
"Then there is a disturbing proportion

of people in the middle whose ideas,

beliefs and support for extremism will

shift depending on what's happening

around them, what al-Qa'eda and their

like are doing, and what the police are doing."

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