THE radical Islamist cleric whose internet sermons are being investigated by police has held a secret conference at which British Muslims were urged to join al-Qaeda.

About 600 people, including women and children, punched the air and chanted Allahu akbar (God is greatest) as they were shown videos of hijacked airliners crashing into the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. Omar Bakri Mohammed, the radical Syrian-born cleric, said that if the British Government did not relax its tough anti- terrorism laws, the response from Muslims would be “horrendous”. He added: “I declare we should ourselves join the global Islamic camp against the global crusade camp.”

The event was held this month at The Friends Meeting House in Central London, the British headquarters of the Quaker movement. Mr Bakri Mohammed’s followers booked the hall for a health conference entitled Women’s Dawah UK and the Quakers were unaware that it was a political gathering.

Two reporters from United Press International, a United States-based news agency, attended and reported a series of inflammatory speeches by Mr Bakri Mohammed and his cohorts. One speaker said that Western governments would face “a 9/11 day after day after day”.

As the crowd chanted, the man shouted: “Whether they be stones, whether they be sticks, whether they be knives, whether they be bombs, whatever they may be, prepare as much as you can.”

With the language of Mr Bakri Mohammed and his followers becoming more extreme, pressure is mounting on ministers and the police to act against him. Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, told The Times that he has asked his officials for a report on Mr Bakri Mohammed’s latest activities.

The Muslim cleric came to Britain in 1986 after being expelled from Saudi Arabia and was granted indefinite leave to remain here. Mr Clarke said that the Home Office would help him to leave Britain, as some reports have suggested he wishes. “I have asked my officials that they explore the truth or otherwise that he wishes to return to Syria or Lebanon, and after that exploration we will do all in our power to assist him to return.”

Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist branch, which is studying his internet speeches for evidence of incitement offences, has held informal discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Bakri Mohammed, 47, attempted to deny his comments and challenged The Times to produce evidence that he had told his internet listeners to join al-Qaeda and follow Osama bin Laden. He said: “These words were not just taken out of context, they were totally fabricated. It is complete fabrications and lies.”

In response, an extract from our recordings of one of Mr Bakri Mohammed’s sermons last week has been made available on timesonline. On it the cleric can be heard describing al-Qaeda as the “victorious group”, which Muslims are “obliged” to join.

A spokeswoman for the Quakers said that they were “hugely distressed” that they had been duped into hosting the conference. She said: “The Quakers are known for our commitment to non-violence and this was absolutely against everything we stand for.”

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