Sunday Mercury Feature: Birmingham revealed as terror hotspot

Jul 17 2011 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury

BIRMINGHAM has been revealed as one of the biggest hotspots for terrorists in the UK, a new study has revealed.

Research from a leading Government think-tank has revealed that 15 Brummies have been convicted for their role in suicide bomb plots and Islamist extremism over the past decade.

A terror map of Britain shows that the city is second only to London when it comes to producing Muslim terror plots, while other surrounding regions have also been the centre of Al Qaeda-linked activity.

Think-tank The Henry Jackson society have produced the map as part of their new report entitled Islamist Terrorism: The British Connections.

Among the most disturbing findings are that seven out of 10 Islamic fanatics operating over the past decade have been “home-grown” British nationals.

Most had links to Al Qaeda, but only 13 per cent were active members of the terror group.

Robin Simcox, one of the authors of the new report, said: “Birmingham, as the second largest area for Islamist terror convicts, is clearly a centre for extremist activity.

“The report shows that the majority of terrorists didn’t attended terrorist training camps, are born and bred here in the UK, and are not necessarily members of proscribed terror groups.

“Clearly, the threat is diverse, and the types of people getting involved, and the ways in which extremism spreads have evolved over the past decade.

“One thing is clear. Despite these developments, Birmingham remains a key centre for Islamist activity in the UK.”

Half of the terror convicts from Birmingham are from the Hodge Hill ward, which covers Alum Rock, Ward End, Washwood Heath and Bordesley Green, while others were based in Edgbaston, Perry Barr, Hall Green and Ladywood.

Several high-profile Midland terrorists are named in the report, with research revealing that half of all fanatics convicted in the past decade are of southern Asian ancestry, mainly from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds.

Of the eight major terrorist plots in the UK during the past 10 years, several have links to the Midlands.

Parviz Khan, from Alum Rock, was caged for 14 years in 2008 for planning to snatch a squaddie from Broad Street, and behead him live on a webcam.