Could Britain's Far-Right produce an Anders Behring Breivik?

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February 6, 2012 6:32 AM EST

The English Defence League poses a threat of violence, says MPs.

English Defence League poses threat of violence, according to MPs

As the number of terror offences committed in Britain has dropped dramatically since the London Tube bombings in 2005, the country faces a new peril in far-right extremism, a group of MPs says.

The home affairs select committee published its report, Roots of Violent Radicalisation, after looking into why people turn to terrorism and what can be done about it.

While the report notes that there is some disagreement about the size and even existence of the terror threat from right-wing extremism, it agreed that there is a "noticeable gap" in a prevention strategy because of the focus on Islamic extremism.

"We received persuasive evidence about the potential threat from extreme far-right terrorism," the report said.

"The ease of travel and communications between countries in Europe and the growth of far-right organisations, which appear to have good communications with like-minded groups within Europe, suggest that the current lack of firm evidence should not be a reason for neglecting this area of risk."

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There should be clear guidelines in the government's strategy for prevention on how to tackle right-wing radicalisation, the report recommends.

Dr Matthew Goodwin, a political scientist at University of Nottingham who specialises in the extreme right, warned MPs that groups such as the English Defence League (EDL) pose a violent threat.

"Even though far-right parties and movements like the EDL are not overtly violent in their ambitions to the same extent that al-Qaida-inspired groups are, I would make a case that this movement contains the potential for violence," Goodwin said.

"It gives its followers a specific set of narratives that, under certain conditions, validate the use of violence."

MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the select committee, said: "Individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds are vulnerable to radicalisation.

"There is no typical profile or pathway to becoming radicalised. It is a policy of engagement - not alienation - that will successfully prevent radicalisation."

Right-wing extremism grabbed the public's attention in July, when 77 were killed in a car bomb and gun massacre attacks in Norway.

Most of the dead were teenagers attending a political event held by the Norwegian Labour Party on the island of Utøya.

Anders Behring Breivik, an anti-Muslim extremist with links to the EDL, is on trial for the murders.

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