If my children wanted to go and fight for jihad, I would encourage them. These boys don't go because of what I tell them, or what their parents say, but as an obligation to God. Another cleric, Abu Hamza al-Masri, whose Supporters of Sharia group operates from a mosque in Finsbury Park, North London, was alleged to be behind the recruitment of eight Britons jailed in Yemen two years ago for a terrorist bomb plot. They included his son, stepson and several officials belonging to the Supporters of Sharia group. After their arrest in Aden they told how they were recruited through mosques in London, Luton and Birmingham, where the latest young victim, Mohammed Bilal, is said to have come from.
Militant groups say that Birmingham is a key focus for their recruitment drive.
Three of the Yemeni gang came from there and local Muslim leaders in the city say teenagers as young as 16 have enlisted to fight. At least one other recruit from Birmingham has been killed recently. Further distribution of material featured on this list may be restricted. In all cases, please obtain the necessary permission of the authors or rightful owners before forwarding any material to or from this list. This service is meant for the exchange of analyses and news, for both academic and activist usage.