Islamist militant groups Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect were today named by the Home Secretary as the first to be banned under new legislation outlawing the glorification of terrorism.

John Reid laid an order in Parliament which will make it a criminal offence for a person to belong to or encourage support for the two groups, to arrange meetings in their support, or to wear clothes or carry articles in public indicating support or membership.

The two UK-based groups are both believed to be offshoots of Al-Muhajiroun, the militant organisation founded by Omar Bakri Mohammed, the controversial cleric who fled to Lebanon last year. They were involved in protests earlier this year against the publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper.

Also proscribed by today’s order were foreign extremist groups the Baluchistan Liberation Army and Teyrebaz Azadiye Kurdistan.

A further draft order, also laid today, will add two alternative names for the Kurdish terrorist group PKK, which is already proscribed.

Mr Reid said: "Proscribing these groups - which are either engaged in terrorism or which glorify terrorist acts - sends a strong signal that the United Kingdom is not prepared to tolerate those who support terrorism here or anywhere in the world.

"I am determined to act against those who, while not directly involved in committing acts of terrorism, provide support for and make statements that glorify, celebrate and exalt the atrocities of terrorist groups.

"I am also committed to ensuring that those organisations that change their name do not avoid the consequences of proscription.

"Protecting the public and strengthening national security is my top priority. Proscription powers are an important tool in our armoury in the fight against terrorism.

"The new, widened, criteria introduced in the Terrorism Act 2006 allows us to create an even more hostile environment in which terrorists find it more difficult to operate, and will assist us in tackling every part of the terrorist network."

Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect first came to wide public notice when they were named as the organisers of protest marches outside the Danish Embassy on February 3 and 4.

Protesters brandished placards with slogans including "Butcher those who mock Islam", "Massacre those who insult Islam" and "Behead the one who insults the prophet".

Six people were later arrested and charged with offences including soliciting to murder, inciting racial hatred, disorderly behaviour and organising a procession without notifying police.

The marches came a week and a half ahead of the key House of Commons vote on new anti-terror legislation, at which Tony Blair secured the new offence of glorification of terrorism despite a rebellion by Labour backbenchers. Mr Blair said then: "The new law will mean that if people are going to start celebrating acts of terrorism or condoning people who engage in terrorism, they will be prosecuted."

In a memorandum issued alongside today’s order, the Home Office stated that Omar Bakri Mohammed had founded Al-Muhajiroun in 1996 with the aim of creating a world-wide Islamic state and encouraging Muslims to support mujahideen who undertake violent jihad. The organisation was dissolved in 2004 and Omar Bakri later travelled to Lebanon and was barred from re-entering the UK.

The Home Office said that the Al-Ghurabaa Internet website, which was used as "a means of mobilising support as well as disseminating its ideas", shared an address and telephone number with that of Al-Muhajiroun. The memo said that the group "courts publicity and makes deliberately provocative and controversial statements expressing extremist views" which fall foul of the anti-glorification legislation.

The Saved Sect website also distributes "extremist material" covered by the glorification offence, said the Home Office, adding: "It is believed that Saved Sect and Al-Ghurabaa websites are working in tandem to disseminate an Islamist message under the umbrella of Ahl Us-Sunnah Wal-Jammaa’ah, described as a sect within Islam".

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