The Report

Luton: A 'Hotbed of Extremism'?


Listen Later

The revelation that the man responsible for Sweden's first suicide bombing had lived and studied in Luton provided the latest link between the Bedfordshire town and terrorist activity.

The accusation that Luton has become a 'hotbed of extremism' dates back to the late 1990s, when it was claimed that one of the men alleged to be involved with a terrorist plot in Yemen in 1998 had lived in the town. Links with Luton have also been cited in other major planned terrorist atrocities since, including the fertiliser bomb plot of 2003 which aimed to blow up British nightclubs and shopping centres, and the July 7th London bombings. The Report investigates whether Luton has a problem with militant Islam and if it is doing enough to stop its young residents from being radicalised.

The programme also asks why Luton has proved fertile territory for the extreme right. The English Defence League was born in Luton in the spring of 2009 in response to the abuse faced by members of the Royal Anglian Regiment - who had returned from a tour of duty in Iraq - from a small group of extremist Muslim protestors.

Phil Kemp speaks to community leaders who reject the impression painted of their town as a divided place.

Producer: Hannah Barnes.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The ReportBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4

4

7 ratings


More shows like The Report

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,780 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

95 Listeners

Casefile True Crime by Casefile Presents

Casefile True Crime

37,818 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

110,759 Listeners

RedHanded by Wondery | RedHanded

RedHanded

12,499 Listeners

Female Criminals by Parcast Network

Female Criminals

6,778 Listeners

The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

The Dr. Hyman Show

9,279 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

13,075 Listeners

Crime World by Sunday World

Crime World

242 Listeners

Manchester Arena Bomb: Stories of Hope by BBC Sounds

Manchester Arena Bomb: Stories of Hope

0 Listeners

When I Was 25 by BBC Radio Ulster

When I Was 25

0 Listeners

Би-Би-Си Кыргыз кызматы 25 жыл ободо by BBC Kyrgyz Radio

Би-Би-Си Кыргыз кызматы 25 жыл ободо

0 Listeners

Dad Boys with Dave Elliott and Shane Todd by BBC Radio Ulster

Dad Boys with Dave Elliott and Shane Todd

2 Listeners

QUB Talks 100 – The Partition of Ireland: Causes and Consequences by BBC Radio Ulster

QUB Talks 100 – The Partition of Ireland: Causes and Consequences

0 Listeners

Descendants by BBC Radio 4

Descendants

13 Listeners

The Listening Project by BBC Radio 4

The Listening Project

6 Listeners

The Great Post Office Trial by BBC Radio 4

The Great Post Office Trial

36 Listeners

Siarad Moel: Podlediad Aled Hughes by BBC Radio Cymru

Siarad Moel: Podlediad Aled Hughes

1 Listeners

Що це було by BBC Ukrainian Audio

Що це було

4 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,459 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

2,028 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,029 Listeners

The MAHA Podcast by Del Bigtree

The MAHA Podcast

106 Listeners