An Australian Muslim leader who repeatedly warned the mayor of New York his city was a breeding ground for terrorists, claims he was completely ignored.

Adelaide's Imam Mohammad Tawhidi sent two letters to Mayor Bill de Blasio warning him about the 'alarming rate of radicalisation' in his city but they went unanswered.

Eight people were killed and 11 more injured when Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, allegedly pledged his allegiance to ISIS and mowed down innocent people on the streets of New York on Tuesday.

'I truly believe we could have prevented the terror attack in New York if the mayor gave me just 10 minutes of his time,' Imam Tawhidi told MailOnline on Thursday.

'I truly believe we could have prevented the terror attack in New York if the mayor gave me just 10 minutes of his time,' Imam Tawhidi told Daily Mail Australia

In letters sent to Mayor De Blasio, Imam Tawhidi warned there were particular Islamic centres 'radicalising Muslim youth within your local government'.

He told the mayor he was willing to give him a list of radical Muslims, and the materials and tactics they used to convert moderate Muslims in their community.

'I would have given him a list of radical Muslims coming into New York and marketing Sharia law in the streets, and lists of organisations getting funding from Iran and Saudi Arabia,' he said.

MailOnline contacted Mayor de Blasio's office, but did not receive a response before publication.

In letters sent to Mayor De Blasio, Imam Tawhidi warned there were particular Islamic centres 'radicalising Muslim youth within your local government' (2016 letter pictured)

Eight people were killed and 11 more injured when Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, (pictured) allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and mowed down innocent people on the streets of New York

'In 2016, I told Mayor de Blasio that I was in NYC and noticed some hot radical centres. I was willing to point out serious cases. Ignored!' Imam Tawhidi posted on Twitter

Imam Tawhidi, who preaches messages of peace, said Muslim organisations sent money from overseas with the expectation recipients would carry out acts of terror.

'They're not just given free money, they all have an agenda, he said.

Imam Tawhidi said he not only sent letters to Mayor De Blasio through the post and online, he also delivered his message through a friend, who was invited to dinner with the mayor.

'I never got a response back,' he said.

During his trips to New York in 2013, 2015 and 2016, Imam Tawhidi said he noticed 'serious forms of radicalisation'.

'I found my own friend radicalised, now he's doing seven years prison for getting into a violent act,' he said.

Imam Tawhidi said there was a particular focus on attracting youth and 'brainwashing them'.

Imam Tawhidi has come under fire from radical Muslims for openly condemning Sharia law and radical Islam

Imam Tawhidi said there was a particular focus on attracting youth and 'brainwashing them'

'About NYC terrorist attack, I personally sent letters to Mayor de Blasio online and in person about terrorist breeding in NYC. He did nothing,' Imam Tawhidi said

'In 2016 I walked into a radical mosque to see what they were doing, and the first thing I heard was a sermon quoting the chapter of Jihad.'

Jihad, or the 'verse of violence', teaches 'the exerting of one's power in repelling the enemy', according to Islamic literature.

In the years since Imam Tawhidi first alerted Mayor de Blasio about the threat of Islamic terror in New York, he said he was completely ignored.

'Two years is a long time, we could have banned dangerous preachers, books, we could have done lots of things,' he said.

'I really believe the mayor hasn't done anything to address Islamic extremism.

'I'm not offended, I just feel sorry for the New Yorkers and others who were killed as a result.'

Imam Tawhidi claims New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) ignored his letters of warning about Islamic extremism

Imam Tawhidi preaches messages of peace and has previously been forced into hiding due to threats of violence from radical Muslims

'Fact: In the last two years, De Blasio spent all his energy and resources in trying to bring down President Trump and not Islamic extremists,' Imam Tawhidi wrote on Twitter

Imam Tawhidi said he was qualified to educate people about terrorism and how to prevent it, not just because he is an Imam, but because he was trained in a 'very extensive course'.

The Australian imam, who emigrated from Iraq when he was 12, also said he knew first-hand 'how a radical thinks'.

'I was once almost radicalised, along with all Muslims that go to Muslim schools and attend mosques,' he said.

'I know their line of thinking.'

The shocking moment that Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen, was arrested after being shot in the abdomen in New York on Tuesday

Imam Tawhidi sent letters to Mayor de Blasio asking to meet with him so he could warn him of 'hotspots' in New York where preachers were radicalising moderate Muslims

The Adelaide based Imam has previously been targeted by hardline Muslims for condemning extremism and Sharia Law.

Imam Tawhidi previously revealed to Daily Mail Australia he received death threats from extremists who wanted to behead him if they saw him on the street.

He believed hardline Muslims wanted to silence him so he would stop speaking out against radicalism.

The Muslim leader was forced into hiding in October when his home address was leaked.

His home was targeted and his car was emblazoned with ISIS, the symbol for the Islamic State militant group.

He has been in hiding since.