UK targets radical clerics

The British government, facing criticism over the killing of a soldier by suspected Islamists in a London street, is to set up a new group to combat radical Muslim preachers and others whose words could encourage violence.

Prime Minister David Cameron's office said yesterday the group aimed to fight radicalism in schools and mosques, tighten checks on inflammatory internet material, and disrupt the "poisonous narrative" of hardline clerics.

"It will assess the range of strategies to disrupt individuals who may be influential in fostering extremism.

"It needs to confront those religious leaders who promote violence head on," the office said.

The killing of soldier Lee Rigby, hacked to death near his London barracks on Wednesday, fuelled public anger about radical Islam.

It has also raised questions over whether more could have been done to prevent the attack and put pressure on Cameron to tackle suspected militants more forcefully.

Witnesses said the soldier's killers shouted Islamist slogans during the attack. Bystanders filmed one of the suspects saying it was in revenge for Britain's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are under guard in hospital after being shot and arrested on suspicion of murder. Media reports said Adebolajo handed out extremist literature and made "rambling and intense" street lectures.

Home Secretary Theresa May said thousands were at risk of being radicalised.

"You have people who are at different points on what could be a path to violent extremism," May told the BBC. "We need to look at the laws."

Former British prime minister Tony Blair tried to tighten rules against hate preachers after the London bombings in 2005 that killed 52 commuters. The measures stirred a long debate about how to balance free speech and civil rights with a strong counter-terrorism strategy.

Three more men were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Asked whether the suspects were "lone wolves" or part of a wider group, May said signs suggested they were acting alone. A parliamentary committee is examining the security services' handling of the case. Security sources said the two suspects were known to them but were not seen as a serious threat.

Britain's Foreign Office confirmed yesterday that Adebolajo was detained by Kenyan police more than two years ago, and that British officials had provided consular assistance. The Kenyan government had denied on Saturday that Adebolajo, born in Britain to Nigerian parents, had ever visited the East African country.

Britain's Sunday Times published a front page picture which it said showed Adebolajo standing in the dock of a Kenyan court with a group of people.

Kenyan media said they were accused of seeking training with al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabab in Somalia.