With the lockdown leaving schools closed and young people unable to see friends and support networks, the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) has warned of heightened vulnerability to terror groups using the internet to groom and recruit people.

The risk of far-right groups in particular is strong in Yorkshire, said Detective Superintendent Matthew Davison, who is also a regional co-ordinator for the Government’s anti-terror early intervention strategy Prevent.

Those with mental health issues are also vulnerable, Det Supt Davison said, and families have been told to look out for shifts in behaviour in their loved ones such as expressions of strong political views, changes in dress and attitude to the world, and quoting extreme political figures.

Parents in Yorkshire need to be more aware than ever of signs their child may be being groomed online by extremist groups, a detective has said

“Tactics used by extremists are many and varied,” he said.

“They are so ingenious in the way they try to infiltrate people so we all need to be open-minded.”

Referrals to Prevent have “more than halved” since lockdown was announced, Det Supt Davison said, although this could be attributed to the closure of schools and community centres.

“There is less support at the moment and those referrals could have normally been made by a teacher or another adult.

Parents in Yorkshire need to be more aware than ever of signs their child may be being groomed online by extremist groups, a detective has said. Picture: Adobe Stock Images

“We can’t deny that the whole pandemic situation has created a whole new perspective on the situation across the North East and Yorkshire.

“Every aspect of the machine that is there to protect and safeguard young people outside their families is gone.”

The two main threats currently come from Islamic extremist groups and far-right organisations such as National Action, the second of which has overtaken the former as the greatest emerging threat in Yorkshire, according to the detective.

He said: “In every area of Yorkshire there are young people who we are protecting from various groups. What people say about the North East is that the extreme right wing type of threat has increased, but the hold of groups like Daesh and Islamic extremists has fallen back a little.

“It is important to understand though that anyone can be at risk.”

Det Supt Davison added that extremist groups will look to “exploit the anxiety currently created by the coronavirus pandemic”, as young people turn to the internet for answers and information about the injustices in the world.

“These groups will politicise the virus by heralding it as an opportunity to take action against perceived vulnerabilities in society,” he said.

“Young people have now got more time to reflect on an unfair world and research and look for answers. It is great they want to do that, but it’s important to do so by talking to adults and reading trustworthy sources, and expressing any feelings they have in a positive and legal way.”

The CTU is asking parents, siblings, relatives and friends to be aware of what young people are looking at online and to have open discussions about issues they may be raising.

The Let’s Talk About It website has advice on what to look out for and how people can seek help if they are worried a loved one is being radicalised.

“I think that we need to be open minded and understand that this is something that impacts everyone,” Det Supt Davison added.

“We are absolutely concerned about young people in particular, who are inside at a time they want to be enjoying themselves.”

Warning to Yorkshire parents over extremists "exploiting" lockdown to radicalise children