Cameron seeks to establish ‘clear picture’ of Brotherhood

The Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into the organisation’s “philosophy and activities”, with information being gathered by both MI5 and MI6.

Speaking at a No 10 news conference, he said that the Government was committed to encouraging people away from the path of extremism.

“We want to challenge the extremist narrative that some 
Islamist organisations have put out,” he told reporters following talks with new Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi.

“What I think is important about the Muslim Brotherhood is that we understand what this organisation is, what it stands for, what its beliefs are in terms of the path of extremism and violent extremism, what its connections are with other groups, what its presence is here in the United Kingdom. Our policies should be informed by a complete picture of that knowledge,” he said.

“It is an important piece of work because because we will only get our policy right if we fully understand the true nature of the organisation that we are dealing with.”

According to The Times, review was prompted by evidence received by the Government that Brotherhood leaders met in London last year to plot their response to events in Egypt.

Since the military ousting of Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi as president in July, it has been blamed by Cairo for a campaign of violence.

The group insists it remains an entirely peaceful organisation but is accused of being behind a wave of deadly attacks on the police and military. Responsibility for a bomb attack on a tourist bus in the Sinai peninsula which killed three South Koreans from a church group and the Egyptian driver, is also among issues being examined.

The Prime Minister’s review is being led by Sir John Jenkins, Britain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, which has also declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

There is pressure from Gulf states for tougher action, with Qatar facing sanctions from neighbours over its continued support for the Brotherhood.

Initial work was said to have been carried out by National Security Adviser Sir Kim Darroch.

The Times quoted officials as saying it was “possible but unlikely” the Brotherhood would be added to the list of groups banned by Britain for terrorist connections.

Mr Morsi and many other senior figures are imprisoned facing trial in Egypt following the coup, which resulted in protests that killed at least 1,000.