A MUSLIM youth leader has expressed fears that vulnerable young people in Newham are at risk of becoming the suicide bombers of tomorrow.

Hanif Qadir of the Al Badr youth group which has members from Stratford says radical political parties working in the borough may be opening the floodgates to drastic action.

The Metropolitan Police Service's top Muslim officer, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, is urging communities to reach out to young people and stand together against terrorism and hate crime.

Mr Qadir voiced his fears after Prime Minister Tony Blair called for legislation to ban the Islamic liberation party Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) which has a stronghold in parts of Newham, including Stratford.

But a member of HT, Mazhar Khan, claims his party is totally opposed to violence and strongly denies any links with radical groups such as Al-Muhajiroun, which was recently disbanded.

Qadir told the Guardian: "I am very worried. There's a lot of anger among young people. I know one guy who said he was ready to die for his beliefs."

"We're working with him and his family and he was given psychiatric help. He got involved with HT and he got very fired up. "Information about dangerous groups is easy to find on the internet. Once the seeds have been sown, there's a lot of hard work to reach young people who could be easily pushed in the wrong direction."

The youth group at the health and leisure centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, has run self-defence classes for local youngsters.

It is working with local Islamic associations and mosques to promote community safety.

Mr Qadir also claims that young people are being targeted by gangsters recruiting drug runners and dealers.

He said: "There is pressure from all directions. There is a gang from East Ham luring the kids with promises of money.

"They see gangsters driving around in their sports cars, flashing their money around and it looks like a good way of life. Not enough has been done in the past to reach out to the young people and now is the time that we need to start helping them."

According to Mr Qadir, radical political groups are putting the safety of the majority of the Muslim community at risk.

He said: "People hear about extremist groups and clerics and that makes them fear the Muslim community.

As a Muslim I am passionate about my religion and I will not let people like this damage the name of Islam. I was brought up in England and I want to put something positive into the community."

This week more than 30 Muslim organistions united to condemn Tony Blair's calls for tougher legislation against Islamic extremist groups.

Mr Khan of HT said: "I think Tony Blair's proposals are completely unjustified. I have been a member of this group since 1991 and I have never heard of people getting involved in violence, there is no evidence of that. I think somebody is trying to make trouble.

"It is as ridiculous as suggesting that members of the Labour Party or Conservative Party are linked to extremist far right or far left groups."

He added: "We are a political party, we do not promote violence. Our work in Britain is primarily focused on reforming Muslims in Britain.

"We are working towards a peaceful and non-violent change of power in the Islamic world.

"We believe the support of the masses is won through hearts and minds. We do a lot of positive work with young people and our meetings are open to everyone."