Police have identified two of the three suspects behind the London Bridge knife attack. One of them is Pakistan-born Khuram Butt, 27, while the other Rachid Redouane, 30, who claimed he was Moroccan-Libyan. Both attackers lived in Barking, London. The attack raises an important question: How did Butt and Redouane get radicalized? Prof Peter Neumann & Dr Shiraz Maher of King's College London explain.

Research Radicalization doesn't exclusively happen over internet-based propaganda

Following the attack, British PM Theresa May highlighted the internet's role as a "safe place" for radicalization and terror recruitment. However, a five-year research by Neumann and Maher, suggests that the radicalization process seldom occurs exclusively online. In their research, the two tracked and collected information of nearly 800 foreigners in Syria and Iraq. Among other things, the recruits' social media activity was monitored.

Explained Real-world terrorist recruiters more effective than internet

Neumann and Maher's research suggests that offline social networks are a more decisive factor in converting people towards extremist ideologies than online propaganda. The internet is the perfect tool for disseminating propaganda and building the brand of terrorist organizations. However, "it is rarely sufficient in replacing the potency and charm of a real-world recruiter," the researchers wrote.

Details One London Bridge attacker was follower of convicted ISIS recruiter Credits:

The research statement is visibly confirmed in the case of attacker Khuram Butt, who was allegedly part of al-Muhajiroun extremist network. The network was based around Anjem Choudary, a notorious British extremist convicted in 2016 for inviting people to support ISIS. Choudary did have a YouTube channel. However, he knew nearly all his followers personally and had recruited them face-to-face.

Information Choudary offered a 'sense of community' to disillusioned recruits

Neumann and Maher wrote that Choudary "offered a sense of community, belonging, and camaraderie within a circle of peers." This could particularly attract disillusioned youth, a target for recruiters. Such communities "builds strong interpersonal bonds based on what has been called 'in-group love'."

Case study Internet's role in radicalization process can't be ignored

While radicalization rarely occurs online, the role of the internet in the process is complex. One of the London Bridge attackers was reportedly a follower of the prolific Michigan-based Palestinian-American radical cleric Ahmad Musa Jibril through the internet. A 2014 report found that over half of all Western ISIS recruits followed Jibril on Facebook or Twitter.

Data Neumann and Maher explain how Jibril indirectly fostered ISIS support