. . World news – GB – A sharp rise in children investigated via far-right links – including children under the age of ten – MyJoyOnline. Com

Children under the age of 10 are being investigated in the UK for their links to far-right extremism, as Sky News found.

Interior Ministry figures show a significant increase in the number of people under the age of 18 referred to the government’s anti-terror program by Channel due to concerns about their potential involvement with the far right..

A total of 682 children were referred for this reason in 2017-18, compared to 131 in 2014-2015 – a more than five-fold increase, according to figures obtained through the FOI request.

For the first time since the data was recorded, there was an equal balance in the number of cases related to the extreme right and those related to Islamic extremism in the year through March 2019..

Out of 5,738 referrals across all age groups, 1,404 (24%) were concerns related to Islamist extremism and 1,389 (24%) were related to right-wing extremism.

The bulk of referrals, 62%, related to youth up to the age of 20.

A former neo-Nazi who runs a group that helps people leave far-right organizations, told Sky News that video games and extremist content on social media are being used to recruit children..

Nigel Promage, founder of Exit UK, said: « I think the far right in Britain today is in fact in its most dangerous state of all..

“The youngest person we supported was nine years old. This, to me, really shook me.

Mr. Promage said that the children’s content that the far right is using to target children online includes video games, memes and videos..

The nine-year-old had been recruited by his older brother who showed his younger brother « extreme video games for neo-Nazis, » he added.. .

Mr Bromage said: “These video games are exactly the same as other video games in terms of stalking and shooting people.. But when you look at the type of game content, you will see that the people being chased are from different ethnic communities and different religions.

“With great graphics and good music, young people are embracing this at all levels.

Exit UK said about 70% of people who have helped leave far-right organizations have been recruited online..

The mother of a 14-year-old who joined the extreme right told Sky News that her son « will be in prison now » if his college does not refer him to a government program to combat extremism.

John (not his real name) was introduced to far-right content online by a school friend.

He told Sky News: « At first the main attraction was how patriotic they were. A lot of people on the far right have said that they stand up for soldiers in the UK, which is something I’ve always been so passionate about..

But as John became more entrenched, he said he was drawn to the « anti-authority » stance of the groups he followed.

He added: « For various reasons, stemming from schools and colleges, for the kind of stricter rules that parents place on children, I think there is a great anti-authoritarian mentality among young people at the moment. ».

“It really provides a sense of belonging. Lots of young people want to feel part of something, and the far right will offer you that.

Sarah, John’s mother (not her real name), said she found out the extent of his involvement when he was only 17.

At this point, John had verbally abused a teacher of Pakistani descent because of her race, and began attending violent far-right demonstrations.

Sarah said: “When you think they are safe, they are at home, and they talk over the Internet to their friends or play video games and find out that it was happening under the roof of your house while I was sitting in the next room, completely ruining the soul.

There is growing evidence that children who have turned to extremism online are being encouraged to take direct action while hiding their activities from others..

Earlier this month, 17-year-old Paul Dunlevi was jailed from rugby for five and a half years after being found guilty of preparing for a terrorist crime..

The teen said his hero was Adolf Hitler and was a member of the now-banned far-right group, FKD.

Meanwhile, in October, 18-year-old Harry Vaughan, from London, received a two-year suspended prison sentence after the bomb-making guide was published on the Neo-Nazi Forum..

The court heard that Vaughan was « ostensibly enjoying every available advantage, » and that his parents were « at a loss » when their son was arrested.

A report by the Hope Not Hate campaign group combating extremism found that often parents and peers do not know their children or friends are being prepared.

Patrick Hermanson, who wrote the report, told Sky News: « At times like these, with social media and kids who have phones, you can immerse yourself in harsh online environments without your parents knowing..

“If we go back 20 years, the youth will not be in [the far-right] groups like Combat 18, and the people in these groups also have very physical“ narratives ”that they were in these groups – it is not difficult to notice.

Richard Smith, Head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Any young person can radicalize – but they can be helped too..

“I really want to appeal to everyone to be as vigilant as possible towards the signs that a likable young man might be in trouble.

A government spokesperson told Sky News that it is already providing “training, resources and direct support” to schools to help them identify children at risk from “twisted ideologies of groups including far-right extremists”.

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement: « Protecting children from extremism forms part of schools’ broader protection duties. ».

Far-right politics, extremism, right-wing politics, the United Kingdom