British universities are “hotbeds of Islamic extremism,” according to a new report from an all party committee on homeland security. Addressing the problem is of the “utmost urgency,” the group says, but universities have been reluctant to cooperate with anti-terror investigations to avoid “spying” on their students. Universities were criticized for failing to “establish the correct balance between academic freedoms and university authorities’ responsibilities as part of ensuring homeland security.” The report found that more than 30 per cent of those charged, and convicted, of crimes related to terrorism had been to university, while 10 per cent were still students. The report also noted that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, dubbed the “Underwear Bomber,” had been Islamic Society President at University College London in 2006-2007, and that two of July 7 London bombers had been university students.

Source : Macleans.ca