Wednesday, September 20, 2006

REID SPEECH DISRUPTED BY HECKLERS!

Two hecklers interrupted the speech and were led away from the event.

Speech disrupted

Home Secretary John Reid has called on British Muslims to do more to help root out potential extremists.
In a 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.
The comments reflect government frustration that not enough has been done since the 7 July London bombings.
His speech was interrupted by a Muslim heckler who said he was "furious" about "state terrorism by British police".
The protester is believed to be Omar Brookes, otherwise known as Abu Izzadeen, who denies being a member of the banned Al Gurabaa group.
He accused the minister of being an "enemy" of Islam.
Mr Reid, who was speaking in Leytonstone, east London, watched as Mr Brookes was led from the building by police and stewards.

A second heckler was ejected a few minutes later after he also interrupted the speech.
The man emerged from the venue clutching several posters, one of which said: "John Reid you will pay!"
The speech was Mr Reid's first to a Muslim audience since he became home secretary in May.
During his trip, which also involved a visit to a mosque, he 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".
He warned that terrorist fanatics sought young vulnerable minds to help their cause.
Mr Reid 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."

John Reid asked Muslim parents to keep a close eye on their children.
He stressed that by protecting families the community would protect itself.
The speech came after some Muslim leaders expressed concerns about the UK's foreign policy and called for it to be changed.
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.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said Muslim elders felt their "real concerns" about the points raised by the home secretary had been "spoiled by stupid heckling".
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".
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.
After the 7 July attacks last year, ministers organised national roadshows targeting fanaticism.

BBC NEWS REPORT.

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