Muslim warns of Scotland's 'home-grown' terror threat

Mohammed Akram, president of the Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland), warned there was no evidence that the country would be "immune" to incidents like the 7/7 bombings which targeted London's transport network.

His comments came as a report revealed that almost half of Scotland's mosque leaders believed extremism existed in Muslim communities north of the Border. A study by the council found that the "vast majority" of imams blamed the UK government's foreign policy.

Mr Akram said: "So far, the attacks have been unpredictable. The 7/7 attacks in London were home-grown and there's nothing to suggest that Scotland will be immune to that.

"We want our Muslim community to be more alert to try to combat extremism."

Mr Akram said beyond the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, other contributing factors cited for the rise of extremism were "wrong interpretation of Islam" and "lack of parental guidance".

However, more than two-thirds of Scotland's 31 imams said long-term government action, including financing an Islamic training college, would "help prevent extremism and terrorism".

The survey of head imams and their representatives - which is the result of the Scottish Executive-funded Democratic Participation Project - found two-thirds believed the relationship between Islam and the West would improve over the next decade. However, Osama Saeed, the Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, last night said the findings excluded the views of large sections of the Muslim community. He said: "There is far more to the Muslim community than the mosques.

"By taking these views as the only ones which are valid, you are effectively ruling out women and people under 25, who don't feel engaged.

"It is similar to what the police used to do to when they went into the mosques but ended up only talking to middle-aged businessmen."

Mr Saeed also said "extremism" was a highly emotive word, which had various interpretations. "You have to question if those who openly espouse it and carry placards saying 'Death to Britain' mean it," he said.

"Secondly, those who are actually engaged in terrorism will be very secretive - the 7 July bombers are a good example."

A spokesman for the Edinburgh Central Mosque said: "Where actual extreme opinions exist, it is unlikely they would be aired in public.

"If someone had extreme views, the imam would engage them in discussion or, if they were talking about a criminal act, report them to the police.

"But there is a huge difference between having extreme views and plotting action."

CASH BLOCK IS LIFTED

A MAN arrested over an alleged airline bomb plot was yesterday allowed to access his bank account.

Shazad Khuram Ali, 27, is believed to be the first person ever to be delisted from the sanctions register compiled by the Treasury.

It means he can use his bank accounts and any other financial assets he holds, such as shares or bonds. Mr Ali was arrested at his Victorian semi-detached family home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, last August. He was later released without charge.

The Treasury first placed restrictions on Mr Ali last August and renewed the measure in December.

Those suspected of links to al-Qaeda, the Taleban and other terror groups, risk having assets frozen.