Muslim extremists using Facebook, Twitter to radicalise UK students

Islamic extremists are using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to radicalise British students and spread propaganda, according to a report. Campaign groups The Henry Jackson Society and Student Rights, in their report 'Challenging Extremists' have uncovered the online use of propaganda. The report pointed out that chilling videos of armed insurgents, accompanied by hate-filled speeches from leading al-Qaida figures, have been posted on websites linked to Islamic societies at several leading universities. Rupert Sutton, the co-author of a report, said that 'the attempted radicalisation of students over the internet, predominantly via social media, is deeply concerning.' "We were able to uncover large amounts of shocking material targeting students and in many cases, shared by students themselves," the Daily Express quoted Sutton, as saying. He said that some of the material could breach existing counter-terror legislation and promote groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned from operating on campuses by the National Union of Students. "We would encourage universities and student unions to heed the revelations in this report to tackle Islamist-inspired extremism while still effectively protecting fundamental freedoms on British campuses," Sutton added. According to the report, the researchers discovered violent and radical videos posted on the University of Westminster's Islamic Society Facebook page, including one featuring a sermon by slain al-Qaida in the Arab Peninsula leader Anwar al-Awlaki.