This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36897596
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Child radicalisation: NSPCC to advise concerned parents | Child radicalisation: NSPCC to advise concerned parents |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A charity has trained its counsellors to help parents who fear their children are being radicalised. | A charity has trained its counsellors to help parents who fear their children are being radicalised. |
| The NSPCC said its existing support line could now advise parents worried about extremists grooming a child. | The NSPCC said its existing support line could now advise parents worried about extremists grooming a child. |
| It said counsellors had been trained to spot warning signs such as children isolating themselves or "talking as if from a scripted speech". | It said counsellors had been trained to spot warning signs such as children isolating themselves or "talking as if from a scripted speech". |
| Recent terror attacks "highlighted the growing problem of individuals being influenced by extremism", it added. | Recent terror attacks "highlighted the growing problem of individuals being influenced by extremism", it added. |
| The charity said it had already started getting calls to its free, 24-hour helpline from people worried about the problem. | The charity said it had already started getting calls to its free, 24-hour helpline from people worried about the problem. |
| 'I didn't see the signs' | |
| Khadijah Kamara from Brighton says her son Ibrahim became radicalised. He was killed while fighting in Syria in September 2014. | |
| "There were signs that you just don't think about. You ignore them until after it happens and then it's only when you think back that you realise," she says. | |
| Khadijah says Ibrahim became "withdrawn" and would "look down on other Muslims, if they were not practising enough". He also spent a lot of time outside of the house and was difficult to contact. | |
| "I didn't even know about the word radicalisation, it wasn't familiar. When he spoke about Syria, I said 'you are listening to someone' but he would just get angry. He was in denial that they were going to war." | |
| The training for NSPCC counsellors explains how extremist recruiters "befriend vulnerable targets, feed them ideologies and - in the worst-case scenario - persuade them to commit terrorist attacks". | The training for NSPCC counsellors explains how extremist recruiters "befriend vulnerable targets, feed them ideologies and - in the worst-case scenario - persuade them to commit terrorist attacks". |
| The charity said potential targets often had low self-esteem, were members of gangs, or were victims of bullying or discrimination. | The charity said potential targets often had low self-esteem, were members of gangs, or were victims of bullying or discrimination. |
| Radicals tell them they can be "part of something special, and brainwash them into cutting themselves off from their friends and family", it added. | Radicals tell them they can be "part of something special, and brainwash them into cutting themselves off from their friends and family", it added. |
| Signs which may "hint at a child being radicalised" include children: | |
| 'I felt like a traitor' | 'I felt like a traitor' |
| One teenage girl from east London described how she became drawn into long intense discussions on the internet which led her to want to run away to Syria. | One teenage girl from east London described how she became drawn into long intense discussions on the internet which led her to want to run away to Syria. |
| "I saw so much violence that it seemed to lose its effect," she said. "Everything merged into one. I can't believe I'm saying that now. | "I saw so much violence that it seemed to lose its effect," she said. "Everything merged into one. I can't believe I'm saying that now. |
| "My primary reason to want to go to Syria was to join Islamic State. I believed this was the best way to be a good Muslim. | "My primary reason to want to go to Syria was to join Islamic State. I believed this was the best way to be a good Muslim. |
| "I believed the West were responsible for the suffering of Muslims particularly in Gaza where innocent people and especially children were killed. I felt a traitor to my faith. | "I believed the West were responsible for the suffering of Muslims particularly in Gaza where innocent people and especially children were killed. I felt a traitor to my faith. |
| "It was easy to maintain this divide between my real life and my online life as no-one knew me in real life." | |
| NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "The fact that a young person might hold extreme or radical views is not a safeguarding issue in itself. | NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "The fact that a young person might hold extreme or radical views is not a safeguarding issue in itself. |
| "But when young people are groomed for extremist purposes and encouraged to commit acts that could hurt themselves or others, then it becomes abuse." | "But when young people are groomed for extremist purposes and encouraged to commit acts that could hurt themselves or others, then it becomes abuse." |
| The charity's counsellors can also advise parents on how to talk to children who are anxious about terrorism or upset by recent attacks, such as those in France and Germany. | The charity's counsellors can also advise parents on how to talk to children who are anxious about terrorism or upset by recent attacks, such as those in France and Germany. |
| The helpline number is 0808 800 5000. | The helpline number is 0808 800 5000. |