David Cameron orders investigation over Muslim Brotherhood's UK activities

Whitehall officials have long been suspecting that the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain has links to violent extremism.

16:27 01 April 2014

Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered an investigation into Muslim Brotherhood activities in the United Kingdom following recent press reports suggesting that members have moved to London to escape a crackdown in Cairo says BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. 

The review, according to Number 10, will focus on examining the group’s philosophy and activities and the government’s policy towards it.

The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist movement which backs ousted president Mohammed Morsi and has been declared a terrorist group by Egypt’s government after its members allegedly attacked a police station and killed 16 people.

A Downing Street spokesman said in a statement: "The prime minister has commissioned an internal government review into the philosophy and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and the government's policy towards the organisation."

Sir John Jenkins, Britain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, is leading the investigation.

While the Brotherhood - or al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun in Arabic - says it supports democratic principles, one of its stated aims is to create a state ruled by Islamic law, or Sharia.