Muslim radicals 'have protected UK from extremists'

An outspoken Muslim cleric claimed today that he and fellow radicals have helped to protect Britain from Islamic extremism for two decades.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed sparked anger earlier this week by suggesting that the British government and the public share some of the blame for the July 7 bomb attacks on London.

Yesterday, British Home Secretary Charles Clarke announced that the UK government is working on plans which would see extremists who use radical preaching, websites or inflammatory articles to incite others to commit acts of terrorism face automatic vetting before being allowed into the country.

Mr Clarke said officials would draw up a list of “unacceptable” activities intended to promote or provoke terrorism in the wake of the London bombings.

The Home Office, Foreign Office and intelligence agencies will compile a database of individuals “around the world” who have demonstrated such behaviour.

Any individuals on that index seeking to enter the UK will have their cases referred to ministers with a view to possible exclusion from the country.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Clarke went on to say that he would be making greater use of powers to exclude from Britain people already in the country who believe in violence.

He suggested that such powers might be used against Sheikh Omar and other radical clerics who have made outspoken comments.

But today Sheikh Omar told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t believe that deportation will solve the problem and can be in any way a cure for what happened.

"I believe that my presence and the presence of many radical Muslims, as you like to call us, we are part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

Asked whether he would leave if he did face a deportation order, he said: “Of course, I would never challenge the legal system. I would prefer to be in prison or to be deported.

“Unfortunately, after we have been banned from any activities, we become completely isolated from the youth. And the youth start to go forward to somebody else abroad.

“I was able, with many radical Muslims, to control the youth for the last 20 years and hold them back from doing anything foolish or anything which is completely wrong.”