London's junior jihadis: Hampstead primary school pupil investigated by terror experts

A London primary school pupil as young as 11 has been referred to the government's anti-radicalisation programme after the city's deputy mayor warned children were being trained to become "junior jihadis".

The chairman of governors at Fleet Primary School confirmed at a public meeting that a pupil from the West Hampstead school had been referred to the borough's branch of the Channel project, which is part of the Prevent programme.

Prevent is a strategy to root out possible cases where there could be environments leading to people being radicalised and drawn to terrorism.

Chair of governors Kim Issroff said the case was part of an "increasing problem in our community", reported local newspaper the Ham and High.

''Unfortunately, there are lots of parents who had a bad experience at school and we are not always able to engage with them. Through community leaders is the way to do it."

It is understood the referral was made to Channel because of the child's parents' behaviour, but it might not be an isolated case.

Hampstead School governor Richard Olszewski said at the same meeting that the school had stepped in before when children showed signs of radicalisation. The incidents were resolved, he said, by working with the pupils' parents.

Channel's involvement comes after deputy London mayor Stephen Greenhalgh warned that Londoners needed to be "extra vigilant" and that children as young as 10 were subject to becoming "junior jihadis".

Fleet Primary School has 230 pupils and says it "actively promotes British values" and challenges "extremist views".

Its most recent Ofsted report said the school was "good" and that pupils are "polite, courteous and respectful to each other".

The school did not respond to calls made by IBTimes UK.