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Reid speech disrupted by hecklers | Reid speech disrupted by hecklers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Home Secretary John Reid has been heckled during a speech about targeting potential Muslim extremists. | |
He was interrupted by activist Abu Izzadeen, a Muslim, who said he was "furious" about "state terrorism by British police". | |
In his speech, Mr Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children and act if they suspected they were being radicalised by extremists. | |
It was his first to a Muslim audience since he became home secretary in May. | |
The protester, also known as Omar Brookes, denies being a member of the banned Abu Ghurabaa group. | |
He accused the minister of being an "enemy" of Islam. | He accused the minister of being an "enemy" of Islam. |
Mr Reid, who was speaking in Leytonstone, east London, watched as Mr Izzadeen was led from the building by police and stewards. | |
HAVE YOUR SAY Introduce licensing for all preachers of all religions David Holman, Europe Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Introduce licensing for all preachers of all religions David Holman, Europe Send us your comments |
A second heckler was ejected a few minutes later after he also interrupted the speech. | A second heckler was ejected a few minutes later after he also interrupted the speech. |
The man emerged from the venue clutching several posters, one of which said: "John Reid you will pay!" | The man emerged from the venue clutching several posters, one of which said: "John Reid you will pay!" |
During his time in east London, which also involved a visit to a mosque, Mr Reid said community and religious leaders could play a key role in the fight against terrorism. | |
The home secretary said "our fight is not with Muslims generally". Instead, he said, there was a "struggle against extremism". | The home secretary said "our fight is not with Muslims generally". Instead, he said, there was a "struggle against extremism". |
He warned that terrorist fanatics sought young vulnerable minds to help their cause. | He warned that terrorist fanatics sought young vulnerable minds to help their cause. |
Mr Reid said: "There is no nice way of saying this. These fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombings, grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others." | |
John Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children | John Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children |
He stressed that by protecting families the community would protect itself. | He stressed that by protecting families the community would protect itself. |
The speech came after some Muslim leaders expressed concerns about the UK's foreign policy and called for it to be changed. | The speech came after some Muslim leaders expressed concerns about the UK's foreign policy and called for it to be changed. |
Mr Reid did not tell Muslim parents to report their concerns to the police but wants them to confront their children's behaviour and talk to them. | Mr Reid did not tell Muslim parents to report their concerns to the police but wants them to confront their children's behaviour and talk to them. |
Shankat Khan, 55, one of the older local residents who attended the speech, said it was very narrow to insinuate that it was just Muslim children who were being radicalised. | |
He said: "What about the British parents? What about the Afro-Caribbean parents? We are as worried as other parents are but we need to be part of a wider society." | |
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said Muslim elders felt their "real concerns" about the points raised by the home secretary had been "spoiled by stupid heckling". | BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said Muslim elders felt their "real concerns" about the points raised by the home secretary had been "spoiled by stupid heckling". |
'Dreadful misjudgement' | |
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government alone could not root out extremism in Muslim communities and defeat the terrorism it creates. | Earlier this year, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government alone could not root out extremism in Muslim communities and defeat the terrorism it creates. |
After the 7 July attacks last year, ministers organised national roadshows targeting fanaticism. | After the 7 July attacks last year, ministers organised national roadshows targeting fanaticism. |
Following Mr Reid's speech, shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said the home secretary was "in danger of repeating what the prime minister has already said: that Muslim extremism is a problem for the Muslim community". | |
Mr Grieve said the minister "needs to realise that it is a problem for all of us". | |
In an open letter last month, some Muslims leaders said British foreign policy was putting civilians at increased risk in the UK and abroad. | |
Mr Reid described the letter, signed by three Muslim MPs, three peers and 38 organisations, as a "dreadful misjudgement". |