More youngsters could be radicalised and headed to Syria to join terror factions, a police inspector has warned.
Detective Chief Inspector Patrick McGowan said there has been a surge in the number of young people who are being groomed on the internet by extremist groups.
It comes as Avon and Somerset police launch a film focusing on members of Bristol’s local Muslim communities. Last October, 15-year-old schoolgirl Yusra Hussien from Easton was thought to have travelled to Syria to take part in the war.
A similar film was released in 2011, which examined the radicalisation of Andrew Ibrahim from Bristol.
DCI McGowan, who heads up the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit, told the Bristol Post that extremism was a “rapidly growing problem”.
He added: “This film is in response to the potential that extremism could grow in Bristol, in parallel to the national picture.
“As far as I know, Yusra’s family are still extremely upset about what happened. I think we need to recognise there is a threat here.
“There is a worry in major cities in this country of people turning to extreme views. More than 700 to 800 people have travelled out to Syria over the last two years, and we are getting to the stage where people are going out daily to Syria.
“It could soon become a huge problem. The Government are aware of these numbers, and so are police, but it is all about making sure families and communities know about it.”
He urged parents to look out for the first signs of radicalisation, which includes a child becoming over religious and starts discussing extremist views.
Worried relatives should also seize the young person’s passport, and call the police.
DCI McGowan added: “We have had examples where large amounts of money and jewellery have been stolen to fund flights in and out of the country.”
Over the last year, the unit has shut down some 3,500 websites aimed at radicalising young people. They were all based in Britain.
He is hoping the film by the constabulary will turn the tide against the terror groups.
The film includes views from Bristol residents, exploring a wide range of issues, including Jihad, stereotypes and the Quran.
Going out to schools across the city, it has already garnered interest from further afield, with other police forces in Britain asking for the footage. Schools from as far as Australia have also been in contact with Avon and Somerset Constabulary about it.
Lesson plans will also be sent out to schools for teachers.
Rizwan Ahmed, 45, from the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society took part in the film. The Easton resident said more youngsters are now turning to the internet.
“These websites have very strong, passionate messages, which are used to groom our youngsters,” he added.
“Sometimes we are disengaged with our people as adults. They have no one to turn to, and because we don’t talk to each other as much anymore, they start looking online for the answers.
“Most of the time, they are not the right answers. There is a misunderstanding unfortunately.
“The threat of having youngsters go off to Syria or the Middle East to fight with terror groups is very real.
“People shouldn’t think it will not happen. It is already happening, and we need to be able to stop it.
“Although there are vast amounts of discussion and debate in the media about the Islamic faith, extremists and terrorism, you rarely get to hear a response from the Muslim community.”
Radicalisation of Bristol’s youngsters
Last year, 15-year-old Yusra Hussien, from Bristol, was the focus of a huge international search.
The Somali youngster went missing from her family home in Easton in August, prompting a huge search of the city.
But police feared she had become radicalised and was already on her way to Syria.
She had travelled to Heathrow with another teenager and boarded a plane to Turkey.
And despite pleas by her parents to come home, she has remained missing since, and has not been in contact with her family.
Members of Bristol’s Muslim community say her family are still upset and devastated by her disappearance, and want her home.
Her family said they were not angry, and just wants her back safe. But the City Academy pupils has not responded since.
Yusra is not the first teenager in Bristol to have been radicalised. Andrew Philip Michael Ibrahim is a British Muslim convert, and was arrested by police after tip offs from members of the community.
Born to an English mother and Egyptian father, he went to primary and secondary school in Bristol, including a cathedral school.
After neighbours got in touch with the police, officers searched his home in Westbury-on-Trym, while evacuating nearby residents.
Soldiers carried out controlled explosions at his home, and searched the nearby woods for clues.
He was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of making explosives with intent and preparing terrorist acts in April 2008.
He had denied both charges but pleaded guilty to a third charge of making an explosive substance.
Prosecutors said Ibrahim had planned to set off the blast in a shopping centre.
To report terrorism, go to https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/advice/threats,-assault-hate-crime/terrorism/.