Police warn of Jihad training for children

Some young children in Britain may be the target of indoctrination aimed at turning them against non-Muslims and training them to launch a holy war, according to a documentary to be shown tonight.

The revelations have been made in a BBC documentary, Inside Out, which focuses on evidence uncovered by the North West’s Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) during raids.

CTU officers, interviewed by programme makers, show a document and a film they recovered of two children aged about three and six playing with a pistol and Kalashnikov rifle.

The officers say that the evidence suggests attempts are being made to radicalise youngsters The footage, which police believe was filmed in Pakistan, was uncovered on the hard drive of a suspect’s computer – though investigators have not revealed when the material was seized.

One document seized by officers states: ”no child is ever too young to be started off on Jihad training.”

Police also found documents downloaded from an extremist website instructing parents to raise Mujahid children. The documents say: ”The key is to start instilling these values in them while they are babies. Don’t wait until they are seven. No child is ever too young to be started off on Jihad training.”

David Thompson, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the majority of the Muslim population supported the police’s counterterror operations in the region.

He told the BBC: ”My view is that the majority of the community across the board see the threat that we’re dealing with and are hugely supportive.”

The programme will be broadcast tonight at 10.25pm on BBC 1’s North West service only.