A SECRET US Embassy cable on Muslim extremism in Britain revealed by Wikileaks today describes Waltham Forest as a place where radicalism is "significant".

The message also describes the borough as "plagued by urban problems including drugs, youth gangs [and] violence".

The dispatch, dated October 2007, also notes how three youths were injured in a triple shooting in the borough as US officials attended a meeting nearby on the work of the Active Change Foundation (ACF) earlier that month.

The apparent shooting was never made public by police.

ACF works with young Muslims to tackle extremism and gang culture and the cable is a summary of a five-day fact-finding mission on Muslim extremism in the UK.

The meeting took place after police in 2006 foiled a plot involving four Waltham Forest men to blow up transatlantic flights.

It notes that there was a "lively discussion" at the Waltham Forest meeting, which was attended by politicians, journalists, community figures and young Muslims.

It states: "During the meeting, the young people present repeated several times to [officials] Pandith and Cohen that they want the skills and the opportunities to be able to represent their views to the media and to decision makers.

"Although the journalists kept interjecting foreign policy issues such as Iraq and Israel/Palestine, the young people stressed that while those issues might be of some concern, the real issues in their lives are jobs, education, and empowerment.

The cables conclude: "Muslim youth from deprived areas expressed less concern with UK and US foreign policy than with the chance to have their voices heard in British society, while those with more education focused on disagreements with UK foreign policy and the need to use the arts to address cultural tensions and reconciliation."

Thousands of the leaked confidential US documents are being released in stages by the Wikileaks website.

Other cables released today reveal US scepticism at the UK's progress in tackling home-grown extremism.

Hanif Qadir, of the ACF, which is based in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, said: "When I first found out we were mentioned I did panic wondering what it said because the leaks have been quite rude about certain people.

“But I think we actually come out of it quiet well.

"We met [US diplomat Farah Pandith mentioned in the cables] several times since that meeting and we've always got on well.

"It says that radicalism is 'significant' and I don't think you can deny that it is an issue and a problem.

“But at the same time there are groups such as ours who are working hard to address this.

"The problem is that local authorities such as Waltham Forest only react to what is in the news.

“When extremism is out of sight it is out of mind. They don't fund projects long-term."

BUt Waltham Forest's Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, Cllr Liaquat Ali, challenged that claim.

He said: "Waltham Forest is nationally recognised as one of the leading authorities for promoting community cohesion and we are proud of the work that our partners have helped deliver.

"The Young Muslim Leaders project which the Active Change Foundation was originally commissioned to set up, for example, adopted a pioneering approach to tackling extremism among young people, working through extremely difficult and sensitive issues. The programme was praised nationally by central government and is still used as a model for best practice for local authorities across the country.

"We have recently widened the mandate of this project, extending it beyond the Muslim community.

"The Young Leaders project aims to help residents aged from 16-24 to build their leadership, presentation and communication skills and work towards bettering their local communities.

"This work has been complemented by wider cohesion work with schools, colleges and faith communities. Ultimately, however, this issue is everybody's responsibility and not just that of the council, the police or central government.

"Schools, faith leaders, community groups and individual residents all have their part to play and it is important that this be remembered."

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