DEARBORN, Mich. – A Dearborn cleric known for his YouTube presence was reportedly involved in the radicalization of one of the attackers who killed seven people and injured dozens of others in a London stabbing.
Investigators identified the attackers as Khuram Shazad Butt and Rachid Redouane. Neighbors said they reported Butt to authorities at least twice when he tried to convert their children to radical Islam.
Dearborn-based religious leader Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibril is renowned among anti-terror sources as a favorite preacher of ISIS fighters, including one of the terrorists who carried out the attack in London over the weekend.
Neighbors of the accused terrorist said they noticed suspicious activities and reported them to London police.
"They were talking to the kid about the religion," Erica Gasparri said. "Kind of like they were imposing themselves, and giving them sweets."
"He used to listen to a lot of Musa Jibril," a neighbor said. "I've heard some of this stuff, and it's very radical. I'm surprised some of this stuff is still on YouTube and easily accessible. I phoned the anti-terrorist hotline. I spoke to the gentleman. I told him about our conversation and why I think he's been radicalized. I did my bit. I know a lot of people did, but the authorities didn't do their bit."
"I said to him, 'There is not a God like you say, in the Bible or the Koran, that says it's right to go and kill people like that,'" Gasparri said. "And he says, 'Yeah. In the name of Allah, we believe, I'm even ready, if I have to, to kill my own mother if she comes against Allah.'"
At this point in the investigation, there are allegations against Musa Jibril that claim he has been radicalizing people.
There have been attempts to pull Musa Jibril's videos off of YouTube, but the site hasn't agreed to do so.
Musa Jibril has spent time in a Michigan prison after being convicted with his father in a scheme in which they were buying buildings and getting them overvalued for insurance purposes. He served time on a type of deed claim.