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Dewsbury 'in shock over UK's youngest suicide bomber' Dewsbury 'in shock over UK's youngest suicide bomber'
(35 minutes later)
Community leaders in the home town of a West Yorkshire teenager who reportedly carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq have spoken of their shock at the news.Community leaders in the home town of a West Yorkshire teenager who reportedly carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq have spoken of their shock at the news.
Dewsbury councillor Masood Ahmed said Talha Asmal, 17, was "no different" from other teenagers, and said people in the town were "devastated".Dewsbury councillor Masood Ahmed said Talha Asmal, 17, was "no different" from other teenagers, and said people in the town were "devastated".
Asmal is believed to have become Britain's youngest suicide bomber, in an oil refinery attack south of Baiji.Asmal is believed to have become Britain's youngest suicide bomber, in an oil refinery attack south of Baiji.
His family say he was groomed online, describing it as a "tragedy".His family say he was groomed online, describing it as a "tragedy".
Social media reports linked to militant group Islamic State (IS) said Asmal, going by the name of Abu Yusuf al-Britani, had taken part in the attack along with three other suicide bombers. At least 11 people were killed in the car bombings carried out by four suicide bombers in the city north of Baghdad on Saturday.
Social media reports linked to militant group Islamic State (IS) said Asmal, going by the name of Abu Yusuf al-Britani, was among the attackers.
Asmal would be Britain's youngest known suicide bomber. Another West Yorkshire teenager, Hasib Hussein, was 18 when he blew himself up on a London bus in the 7 July 2005 attacks.Asmal would be Britain's youngest known suicide bomber. Another West Yorkshire teenager, Hasib Hussein, was 18 when he blew himself up on a London bus in the 7 July 2005 attacks.
"Communities are devastated and shocked to hear the news," said Mr Ahmed, a Labour member of Kirklees Council."Communities are devastated and shocked to hear the news," said Mr Ahmed, a Labour member of Kirklees Council.
He told BBC Radio 5 live there were "no signs, no symptoms" that Asmal had been groomed by extremists online - as his family now believe he was. He said there were "no signs, no symptoms" that Asmal had been groomed by extremists online - as his family now believe he was.
"He was no different from any other teenager in terms of being loving, caring, naive, innocent. He loved sport, he was doing OK in school," Mr Ahmed said."He was no different from any other teenager in terms of being loving, caring, naive, innocent. He loved sport, he was doing OK in school," Mr Ahmed said.
Lorraine Barker, executive principal of Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form, where Asmal was studying, told the Times he was "very quiet and private". Lorraine Barker, executive principal of Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form, where Asmal was studying, told the Times he was a "conscientious student", and staff and students were in "complete shock" when he travelled to the Middle East in March.
"He didn't draw any attention to himself, he was just a conscientious student," she said.
She said staff and students were in "complete shock" when Asmal travelled to the Middle East.
In a statement issued on Sunday, his family said he was a "loving, kind, caring and affable teenager".In a statement issued on Sunday, his family said he was a "loving, kind, caring and affable teenager".
"He never harboured any ill will against anybody nor did he ever exhibit any violent, extreme or radical views of any kind," they said."He never harboured any ill will against anybody nor did he ever exhibit any violent, extreme or radical views of any kind," they said.
"Talha's tender years and naivety were, it seems... exploited by persons unknown who, hiding behind the anonymity of the world wide web, targeted and befriended Talha and engaged in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him. "Talha's tender years and naivety were, it seems... exploited by persons unknown who, hiding behind the anonymity of the world wide web, targeted and befriended Talha and engaged in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him."
"Whilst there it appears that Talha fell under the spell of individuals who continued to prey on his innocence and vulnerability to the point where, if the press reports are accurate, he was ordered to his death by so-called Isis [also known as IS] handlers and leaders too cowardly to do their own dirty work. They added: "We are all naturally utterly devastated and heartbroken by the unspeakable tragedy that now appears to have befallen us."
"We are all naturally utterly devastated and heartbroken by the unspeakable tragedy that now appears to have befallen us."
Analysis: Tom Symonds - BBC home affairs correspondentAnalysis: Tom Symonds - BBC home affairs correspondent
The flow of young men and women to warzones in Syria and Iraq continues to be the biggest challenge to Britain's counter-terrorism effort.The flow of young men and women to warzones in Syria and Iraq continues to be the biggest challenge to Britain's counter-terrorism effort.
Senior officers estimate more than 700 British citizens have now made the journey, some taking on the name "al-Britani" to signify their origins. Half have come back to the UK, posing the risk that they might plan attacks.Senior officers estimate more than 700 British citizens have now made the journey, some taking on the name "al-Britani" to signify their origins. Half have come back to the UK, posing the risk that they might plan attacks.
BBC research suggests more than 30 are still in the warzones, and possibly as many as 50.BBC research suggests more than 30 are still in the warzones, and possibly as many as 50.
However its estimated a third are not known to police and the security services, making their job of tracking extremists and prioritising those posing the greatest risk much harder. However, it is estimated a third are not known to police and the security services, making their job of tracking extremists and prioritising those posing the greatest risk much harder.
'Not victims''Not victims'
Shahid Malik, former MP for Dewsbury and a family friend of the Asmals, said it was "disturbing" to see how relaxed Talha looked in the IS photographs allegedly taken prior to his suicide mission.Shahid Malik, former MP for Dewsbury and a family friend of the Asmals, said it was "disturbing" to see how relaxed Talha looked in the IS photographs allegedly taken prior to his suicide mission.
"He looks at peace. It's like he's ready to go and meet his maker. This is a clear indication of just how successful the evil Isis groomers have been in poisoning and brainwashing Talha and kids like him," he said."He looks at peace. It's like he's ready to go and meet his maker. This is a clear indication of just how successful the evil Isis groomers have been in poisoning and brainwashing Talha and kids like him," he said.
Mr Malik likened Asmal's case - and other similar ones - to sexual abuse.Mr Malik likened Asmal's case - and other similar ones - to sexual abuse.
"Parents often haven't got a clue what's going on and the kids themselves don't see themselves as victims - and even society doesn't," he told 5 live."Parents often haven't got a clue what's going on and the kids themselves don't see themselves as victims - and even society doesn't," he told 5 live.
"I know the family. They are a peace-loving, beautiful family - they wouldn't harm a fly.
"They're completely distraught and devastated. Their world had been shattered beyond comprehension."
He added Asmal's story should serve as a "wake-up call".He added Asmal's story should serve as a "wake-up call".
"Mosques need to confront this evil ideology head-on. Children need to be taught what is acceptable and not acceptable in respect to Islamic State's ideology."Mosques need to confront this evil ideology head-on. Children need to be taught what is acceptable and not acceptable in respect to Islamic State's ideology.
"I would say that up and down and the country that is not happening at the moment.""I would say that up and down and the country that is not happening at the moment."
'Work together'
The case prompted criticism of the government's counter-terrorism strategy.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said UK had fallen "well behind" on tackling the issue and urged a "stronger plan" for community-led action.
"We have known for a long time that Isil was using social media to recruit young people to join their bloody war. So why don't we have a proper plan in place for communities to be able to proactively counter the lies they spread and undermine their attempts to glorify the civil war they are fuelling?" she said.
But Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of terrorism laws, said Ms Cooper was wrong to make it a party political issue.
All governments "face the same problems and should be working together on a non-partisan basis to produce solutions", he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
He said a "public-private partnership using the very best brains to enable us to put a counter-narrative on the internet" was needed, adding: "We must allow the authorities within a proper framework to have access to communications data that might lead them to prevent someone like this young man from going abroad to be a terrorist."
'Preachers of hate''Preachers of hate'
IS has seized large swathes of territory in eastern Syria and across northern and western Iraq.IS has seized large swathes of territory in eastern Syria and across northern and western Iraq.
At least 700 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist organisations in the area, with the majority joining IS.At least 700 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist organisations in the area, with the majority joining IS.
Asmal travelled to Syria with fellow Dewsbury teenager Hassan Munshi. Asmal travelled to Syria with fellow Dewsbury teenager Hassan Munshi earlier this year.
In a statement, the Home Office said: "Since 2011, we have trained more than 160,000 people working on the front line of our public sector to identify and prevent extremism, excluded nearly 100 preachers of hate - more than any other government - and successfully taken down more than 90,000 pieces of terrorist-related material from the internet.In a statement, the Home Office said: "Since 2011, we have trained more than 160,000 people working on the front line of our public sector to identify and prevent extremism, excluded nearly 100 preachers of hate - more than any other government - and successfully taken down more than 90,000 pieces of terrorist-related material from the internet.
"We also removed or refused 30 passports in 2013 and 2014 where people were considered to be at risk of travelling to Syria or Iraq.""We also removed or refused 30 passports in 2013 and 2014 where people were considered to be at risk of travelling to Syria or Iraq."
The Britons taking terror overseasThe Britons taking terror overseas
A BBC News database tracks those who have died, been convicted of offences relating to the conflict or are believed to still be in the region.