US Gov’t to Train People to Spot Potential Extremists

Local Editor

The US government launched a program on Monday to reach out to key members of communities across the country to try to stop radicalized young people joining so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] and other extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq.

The US Department of War, the White House, and other agencies are starting a series of pilot programs to bring together community leaders, law-enforcement officials, and others to develop a strategy to counter the threat, US Attorney General Eric Holder said in a video announcing the program.

While existing programs have focused on community leaders, the new programs will also include teachers and mental health and social services professionals to provide more support and develop ways to spot potential extremists, an official familiar with the program said.

US officials have estimated that as many as 15,000 foreign fighters are operating in Syria, including 3,000 westerners and around 100 Americans.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team