This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/5362052.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Reid speech disrupted by hecklers Reid heckled during Muslim speech
(about 1 hour later)
Home Secretary John Reid has been heckled during a speech about targeting potential Muslim extremists.Home Secretary John Reid has been heckled during a speech about targeting potential Muslim extremists.
He was interrupted by activist Abu Izzadeen, who said he was "furious" about "state terrorism by British police".He was interrupted by activist Abu Izzadeen, who said he was "furious" about "state terrorism by British police".
In his speech, Mr Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children and act if they suspected they were being radicalised by extremists.In his speech, Mr Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children and act if they suspected they were being radicalised by extremists.
It was his first speech to a Muslim audience since becoming home secretary.It was his first speech to a Muslim audience since becoming home secretary.
The protester, also known as Omar Brookes, denies being a member of the banned Abu Ghurabaa group. ABU IZZADEEN Also known as Omar or Trevor BrooksEx-member of now-banned al-Ghurabaa groupInvestigated over comments made in BBC interview post-7/7Said in that interview UK should have accepted "ceasefire" offer from Osama bin Laden href="/1/hi/uk/5364018.stm" class="">Mixed response to Reid call
The protester, also known as Omar Brooks, denies being a member of the banned al-Ghurabaa group.
He accused the minister of being an "enemy" of Islam before he was led from the building by police and stewards.He accused the minister of being an "enemy" of Islam before he was led from the building by police and stewards.
A second heckler was ejected a few minutes later after he also interrupted the speech. Respect MP George Galloway, in an open letter to Mr Reid written on Wednesday afternoon, asked how such a "well-known extremist... was allowed within punching distance of the British home secretary".
HAVE YOUR SAY Introduce licensing for all preachers of all religions David Holman, Europe href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3904&edition=1" class="">Send us your comments A Home Office spokesman said that, while Mr Izzadeen was not invited to the meeting, it was "in the nature of an open community meeting... that some people who were not invited ended up attending.
"There was no question of the home secretary's safety being compromised at any time."
A second heckler, who also interrupted Mr Reid's speech, was ejected a few minutes after Mr Izzadeen.
During his time in Leytonstone, east London, which also involved a visit to a mosque, Mr Reid said community and religious leaders could play a key role in the fight against terrorism.During his time in Leytonstone, east London, which also involved a visit to a mosque, Mr Reid said community and religious leaders could play a key role in the fight against terrorism.
The home secretary said "our fight is not with Muslims generally". Instead, he said, there was a "struggle against extremism". HAVE YOUR SAY Introduce licensing for all preachers of all religions David Holman, Europe href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3904&edition=1" class="">Send us your comments
And, warning that terrorist fanatics sought to influence youngsters, he said: "There is no nice way of saying this. These fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombings, grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others." The home secretary said "our fight is not with Muslims generally".
He stressed that by protecting families the community would protect itself. Instead, he said, there was a "struggle against extremism".
The speech came after some Muslim leaders expressed concerns about the UK's foreign policy and called for it to be changed. And, warning that terrorist fanatics sought to influence youngsters, he said: "There is no nice way of saying this.
Mr Reid did not tell Muslim parents to report their concerns to the police but wants them to confront their children's behaviour and talk to them. "These fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombings, grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others."
Following the speech, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said it was "extraordinarily difficult" to clamp down on Islamic extremism without offending large groups of Muslims.Following the speech, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said it was "extraordinarily difficult" to clamp down on Islamic extremism without offending large groups of Muslims.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live's Simon Mayo programme, he said: "I have seen the incident, I think it isn't at all pleasant.
"But at the moment no law has been broken by that protester, and I think one of the most difficult jobs the police have is this line between free speech and abuse."
John Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their childrenJohn Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children
Massoud Shadjareh, who chairs the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said Mr Reid's demands were "unrealistic and not demanded from any other community".Massoud Shadjareh, who chairs the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said Mr Reid's demands were "unrealistic and not demanded from any other community".
He added that the government, whose policies he said played a "substantial role" in radicalising people, "needs to come out of this state of denial, stop pointing fingers at others and instead recognise the root causes and its own responsibility". He said he government, whose policies he said played a "substantial role" in radicalising people, "needs to come out of this state of denial, stop pointing fingers at others and instead recognise the root causes and its own responsibility".
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government alone could not root out extremism in Muslim communities and defeat the terrorism it creates. Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said the home secretary should realise Muslim extremism was not a problem just for the Muslim community, but "for all of us".
'Dreadful misjudgement' The speech came weeks after some Muslim leaders expressed concerns about the UK's foreign policy and called for it to be changed, in a letter which Mr Reid then called a "dreadful misjudgement".
After the 7 July attacks last year, ministers organised national roadshows targeting fanaticism.
Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said on Wednesday that the home secretary was "in danger of repeating what the prime minister has already said: that Muslim extremism is a problem for the Muslim community".
Mr Grieve said the minister "needs to realise that it is a problem for all of us".
In an open letter last month, some Muslims leaders said British foreign policy was putting civilians at increased risk in the UK and abroad.
Mr Reid described the letter, signed by three Muslim MPs, three peers and 38 organisations, as a "dreadful misjudgement".