Teenagers 'recruited to terror groups in worrying numbers in lockdown'
Teenagers are being recruited to Islamist terror groups in ‘worrying’ numbers during lockdown, warns Dominic Raab
- Dominic Raab has updated the House of Commons on the threat posed by Daesh
- Foreign Secretary warned of number of teenagers recruited during lockdown
- Said the terror group’s brand had been ‘weakened’ but still remained potent
Teenagers are being recruited to Islamist terror groups in ‘worrying’ numbers during the pandemic, Dominic Raab warned today.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted the problem as he made a statement updating the House of Commons on the threat from Daesh.
He said although the extremist organisation had been ‘weakened’ its propaganda still needed to be tackled ‘head on’.
In December the volume of terrorist content online went up by 7 per cent as lockdown provided a ‘perfect storm’ for young people vulnerable to indoctrination, according to Mr Raab.
‘This is a critical moment. Yes, Daesh’s brand has weakened – it remains, nonetheless, globally recognised,’ he said.
Mr Raab continued: ‘In December 2020, the UK Counter-Terrorism Referral Unit saw a 7 per cent rise in the volume of terrorist content online and we can see a worrying rise in the proportion of children and teenagers that are now being arrested for terrorism offences.
Dominic Raab highlighted the problem as he made a statement updating the House of Commons on the threat from Daesh
Mr Raab suggested lockdown provided a ‘perfect storm’ for young people vulnerable to indoctrination. Pictured, central London last week
‘And it was Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu (of the Metropolitan Police) who described lockdown and the accessibility of terrorist content online as a perfect storm because terrorists have digital access to those who are probably the most susceptible to extremist narratives.
‘So we are tackling Daesh’s propaganda head on and I am proud the FCDO leads on this work on behalf of the global coalition.’
He added that the UK Government has ‘carried out a range of targeted and effective cyber operations’.
Mr Raab warned MPs that Islamic State are ‘still able to carry out lethal attacks’.
‘The safety and the security of our citizens is obviously the Government’s highest priority, it is at the core of our work in tackling Daesh which remains our most significant terrorist threat – both at home and abroad,’ he said.
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy asked what steps the Government is taking to protect children from Daesh propaganda.
‘I was deeply troubled to hear the Foreign Secretary outline the way that children are being targeted by Daesh propaganda,’ she said.
‘Does he agree that it is appalling that British children in the UK are being groomed to join Daesh? And can he therefore tell me what steps the Government is taking to protect children from this threat?’
Mr Raab responded: ‘I think this is particularly important because of the moral duty that we recognise and the first thing to say is obviously we advise anyone against travel to Syria, there’s no consular support there, certainly not the kind of regular consular service that we’d be able to provide, that’s obvious, the conditions on the ground make that impossible.
‘And as I have said to the House previously, we continue to work with all of those concerned to facilitate the return of unaccompanied or orphaned children where that’s feasible, where that can be done where there’s no risk to security and where practically it can be done.
‘I won’t comment on the numbers, it’s obviously very sensitive but I take that very seriously. We regard those children as the innocents of the scourge of war and wherever it’s safe and possible, we will put our protective arms around them.’
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy asked what steps the Government is taking to protect children from Daesh propaganda
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