Hate preacher Bakri targets young people through Web campaign

AN internet recruitment drive by extremist preachers aimed at young Muslims in London is set to undermine the Government's aim to make it harder for radicals to enter the country.

The Home Office wants to introduce rules making it easier to bar preachers of hate from Britain.

But a Standard investigation has uncovered dozens of YouTube videos filmed by a radical Islamic sect and its exiled leader Omar Bakri Mohammed as part of its latest recruitment drive.

The clips by Islam for the UK include messages and interviews with Lebanon-based Omar Bakri, the former head of disbanded group al-Muhajiroun.

"This is the same network that was banned under anti-terrorism legislation in 2006 [al-Muhajiroun] in all but name," said Neil Doyle, a researcher who has tracked the internet activities of radicals on the internet for 15 years.

"The signs are that it has embarked on a major recruitment drive. Omar Bakri is reaching a wider audience on the internet than he would do if he was in the UK."

Some of the films were recorded at a youth conference in Walthamstow last month.

The Home Office said: "We cannot stop radical preachers reaching Britain through the internet." YouTube said it was investigating the videos.