EXTREMIST groups are using conspiracy theories and fears about Covid-19 to “attract a more mainstream audience” – according to a new report.

An annual update into the Prevent strategy in Bradford will be given to Councillors at a meeting next week.

The report highlights how groups are using anti-lockdown and “free speech” messages to mask their more extremist views, attracting a new group of supporters in the process.

Prevent was set up to tackle the spread of extremism.

Although the original focus was on Islamic extremism, there has been increased focus on Far Right extremism in recent years.

Each year Bradford Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee is given an update on how the Prevent strategy is being implemented in the Bradford District.

At a meeting on Thursday members will hear that one of the big issues in the past year has been how extremist groups have used fears about Covid 19 and frustration about lockdown to try and entice people who would not normally fall prey to such groups.

A report to members says: “Right wing extremism and terrorism continues to be a growing risk, successfully tapping into uncertainties around Covid and also international events.

What is being done to tackle extremism in Bradford?

“The development of their tactics to use online platforms and push a ‘free speech’ narrative and discuss conspiracy theories, enables the extreme far right to deflect from their own extremism and attract a more mainstream audience.

“Individuals can be very vulnerable to the on-line narrative.”

Members will also be given a report by the Commission for Countering Extremism looking at conspiracy theories involving the pandemic. It was written last Summer, following the first National lockdown, but many of the issued raised in the document have remained almost a year into the pandemic.

It says: “During the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen an increased visibility of conspiracy theories ranging from anti-vaccine, anti-establishment to anti-minority and antisemitic.

“They are not specific to any one ideology, but are used by the Far Right, Far Left and Islamists to further their own ideological aims.”

It says groups have used conspiracy theories to shift blame onto certain communities.

The report says: “Whilst many conspiracy theories may be considered harmless, some have resulted in very real-world consequences.

“The conspiracy theory that claimed ‘faster 5G internet [was] either causing or accelerating the spread of the coronavirus’ gained significant traction.

“We know that extremists discussed this theory on fringe social media platforms such as Telegram.

“It was reported that circa 50 5G masts were targeted for arson and vandalism in the UK in April.”

A number of arson attacks on 5G masts took place in Bradford – including masts on Leeds Road and in Bierley, damaging the local phone infrastructure, leading to tens of thousands of pounds of damage and leading to huge emergency service responses.

The Commission’s report says Islamist groups have used Covid conspiracies to spread anti-Western hatred, while Far Right groups have shared conspiracies that Muslims are deliberately spreading the virus or ignoring lockdown in an attempt to sow mistrust.

Groups have even coined phrases to try to and shame people into following their narrative. The report refers to the insult “sheeple” – used to imply that people who listen to lockdown advice are not thinking for themselves.

It says: “Although popular with the Far Right, it has also circulated amongst other communities.”

Chief Superintendent Nik Adams, national coordinator for Prevent, is quoted in the report, saying: “Extremists and radicalisers will look to exploit any opportunity to lead those people into harm, often using topical issues as hooks to lure them in.”

The scrutiny committee meets online at 4pm on Thursday.