For years, Britain, and London in particular, has been a hub for Islamic radicals.
CBN.com – LONDON — Since 9/11, Britain has emerged as America's closest ally in the war against terrorism. Ironically, Britain is also a major base of operation for some of the most radical Islamic organizations, including some direct supporters of Osama bin Laden. At the heart of Britain's radical Islamic movement is a man named Mustafa Kamel, a.k.a. Abu Hamza al-Masri. An Egyptian cleric, Hamza is wanted by other countries for suspected terrorist activities. And the FBI is building a case against him and several of his associates.
Today, he spends his time in London running a group called "Supporters of Sharia." According to the SOS website, the goal is to replace secular rule and democracy with Sharia, a harsh form of Islamic law.
When CBN News asked Hamza if he wants to see Great Britain become a Muslim nation based on Sharia, he said, "The whole of the planet, not only Great Britain, because we are all a creation of god, we have to pay god his attributes, and follow his law."
Hamza, who has a metal hook on his right arm, lost both hands and an eye during a raid in Afghanistan 10 years ago. He believes a holy war is the only way to implement the laws of Allah in Britain. Included in this is a call for martyrdom.
"This is the only way you can prove yourself in front of god. Look, this is the dearest thing I have, is my life, if I had anything dearer than that, I would have given it to you. So being a martyr is an honor," Hamza said.
For years, Britain, and London in particular, has been a hub for Islamic radicals. Some anti-terrorism investigators have even called the British capital "Londonistan." Many fundamentalist groups find Britain, with its liberal immigration laws and tradition of free speech, to be a perfect base for their jihad against the West.
There are about two million Muslims living in Britain. About 48 percent of them live in London, and their numbers are growing fast.
Jay Smith, an American missionary to England, said, "The influence of Islam is growing dramatically for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they are doing an awful lot more than we are, than anybody else is to make sure that it grows. For that reason, people are hearing, people are listening, people are being influenced. They are converting right, left and center."
Religious experts have called London the evangelical hub of radical Islam in the West. Some see the conversion of England to Islam as an important strategy for winning Europe.
Omar Izzadeen and a number of other young men belong to a radical Muslim group called Al Muhajiroun. Their mission is to establish Al Khilafah, a global Islamic regime, starting here in Britain.
"Our message is to bring Islam to the world. Islam will conquer the White House, will conquer in Downing Street," Izzadeen said. "It means conquer, it means the Americans will live under Islam, like it or not. So will the UK."
On a Friday night, Izzadeen instructs the group to follow the example of the 19 hijackers of September 11th. He reminds them that it only took a "few good men" to bring terror to America.
"It really shook the Americans, a Superpower, shook by 19! And it showed their weakness. You see brothers, if people put their minds to something, they can do anything, and in particular, the believers," Izzadeen said.
While the majority of Muslims here have nothing to do with these radical groups, experts say Islam is becoming a major force to be reckoned with in Britain.
And for those who do not care to believe in their god, what are the consequences? Hamza said, "Well, if you live in my property and you don't pay me my rent, you get out! And Jihad is to get you out, this is the property of god, you don't worship him, you get out. How are you going to get out? You get killed!"