£430,000 to stop terror extremism

4:39pm Tuesday 22nd May 2007

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THOUSANDS of pounds are set to be spent across East Lancashire in a bid to prevent violent extremism.

Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle Councils will each receive £75,000 to spend on projects to stop people turning to violence.

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Rossendale is believed to be getting £35,000, while a further £95,000 will be spent across East Lanc-ashire.

The funding comes from a government initiative started in the wake of the July 7 terror attacks, in which 52 people died.

It has been provided to help strengthen the leadership and governance in mosques, so clerics do not preach extremist views Local authorities are also being encouraged to use the money to work with schools and mosques to increase teaching of citizenship, and hold debates and forums on different faiths.

Hamid Qureshi, chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques, and a co-ordinator for religious group Building Bridges, based at Clegg Street Mosque, Burnley, said a lot of work needed to be done to stop extremism.

He said: "It is not only a Muslim thing, people have reservations about what is going on around the world.

"There is an element in the Muslim community who may resort to violent extremism if they disagree with things. I am quite active and I have not come across a single person who is an extremist.

"There is a lot of work to be done in Muslim communities, and other communities, in developing young people and addressing issues.

"If the resources are spent wisely it may be useful."

East Lancashire already has a history of extremism.

Saajid Badat, from Blackburn, was jailed for 13 years in 2005 over a plot to blow up an aeroplane. Extremist cleric Abu Hamza is also known to have preached in the area, while the extreme-right British National Party has made in-roads politically in recent years.

The drive is part of a Government scheme called Preventing Violent Extrem-ism, which will see £6million spent this year across 70 council areas.

Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council, and Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and Preston Councils joined forces to apply for the cash.

Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale and Hyndburn Councils were unavailable to comment about how they were going to spend the money.

Burnley and Pendle plan to spend the money on a number of community projects, including forums against extremism, as well as outreach work with young people.