How Islamic State extremists use social media to recruit

Sara Khan, director at the anti-extremist group Inspire, says she has seen evidence of it on "common social media sites".

It's become clear a group of three teenage girls from London had been in contact with extremists online before leaving for Syria.

It's thought they could have also been given advice about making the journey.

Twenty-year-old Aqsa Mahmood travelled to Syria to become a "jihadi bride" in 2013 and has since thought to have been promoting terrorism via social media.

There's evidence she had been messaging 15-year-old Shamima Begum - one of the teenagers who fled London on Tuesday.

Shamima is travelling with Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15.

"The sad reality is the internet is awash with thousands of extremist websites - all claiming to speak in the name of religion," says Sara Khan.

She says extremists target young girls and try to convince them to "come and join this wonderful family" by saying things like: "We've got women from across the world. You will love it."

They try to "portray it as a big happy family," Ms Khan says "and it's a complete lie".

Last year Twitter began a sustained clampdown on accounts thought to be run by Islamic State members.

(BBC)