Most Londoners believe terror threat increasing: report
Xinhua
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File photo of Sadiq Khan. (Photo: VCG)

LONDON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Violent terrorism poses one of the biggest threats to London, Sadiq Khan, mayor of the UK capital, said Tuesday.

Khan was commenting on a new report which revealed more than 60 percent of Londoners think the threat from extremism is increasing.

The study also revealed nearly two-thirds of Londoners would not know how to seek support from the authorities if they were worried about an individual who seemed vulnerable to being drawn to terrorism.

Unveiling City Hall research, Khan called for improved efforts to tackle violent extremism. The report he commissioned revealed significant improvements need to be made to tackle threat of radicalisation and far-right extremism.

To inform London's efforts to tackle radicalisation and violent extremism, Khan commissioned the research last April to understand what Londoners' views and experiences of extremism are, focusing on how they would identify and refer any concerns they had to the police or another authority.

Khan said: "Violent extremism is one of the biggest threats facing London and our country. We simply must do better at safeguarding the vulnerable and stopping people from promoting these vile ideologies with such horrific consequences.

"There is a role for all of Londoners in tackling the spread of violent extremism, but this research shows that unfortunately, the Prevent program (a UK government initiative) is failing some of the communities that most desperately need it.

"We have to do more to empower communities to speak out and challenge hate crime and extremist views. We need communities to report concerns to the police and local authorities, and find lasting solutions that will stop the spread of violent extremism completely," Khan said.

The mayor brought together on Tuesday some of the key organisations working with his Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program to provide an update on the progress of this work and discuss their findings.

City Hall said initial findings show significant improvements need to be made to increase trust and transparency among some of London's communities.

Organisations at Tuesday's event were joined by victims of terrorism, whose tragic stories and experiences reinforce the importance of having a counter-terrorism strategy that works for London, said a spokesperson for Khan.

Specialist Adviser Councillor Clare Coghill, leader of Waltham Forest Council in London, and a specialist adviser to the mayor, said: "All communities need to understand the ever-changing threat from extremism in London and what part we all play in challenging extremist views."

The mayor's study also revealed that 25 percent of people said they had witnessed or experienced extremist views in the past twelve months.