The Daily Star's FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Sign up today! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

(Image: PA/NC)

Intelligence sources have revealed virtually all of the 3,000 suspects on British streets are being financed by the taxpayer.

Most are unemployed men or women, claiming state benefits living in council houses and being paid Income Support and Child Tax Credits.

It can also be revealed that spouses of terrorist suspects charged and held on remand in UK prisons are also allowed to claim benefits.

Manchester bomber Salman Abedi, above, who murdered 22 people and injured more than 100, is believed to have funded his terrorist campaign with student loans and benefits.

Abedi is believed to have claimed more than £7,000 in student loans after beginning a business administration degree at Salford University in October 2015.

Terrorists groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda now actively encourage students to fund their terrorist attacks with loans which they will never repay.

(Image: ENTERPRISE)

The revelation last night prompted calls for a review of how Britain’s benefits system is being exploited by hate-filled Jihadis.

One source last night said: “Virtually every terrorist suspect investigated by either MI5 or the police counterterrorist teams has been living off benefits or has received some form of government handout. It is now a major problem.”

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former government counter terrorism expert, called for a crackdown on handouts.

He said: “Whenever the government has strong evidence of involvement in terrorist activity – even from secret intelligence that cannot be used in court – measures should be taken to cut off their funding and either prosecute, deport or intern them. "

(Image: PA)

After Manchester we cannot any longer allow these people to remain at liberty and even fund their terrorist activities from taxpayers’ money.

“If we don’t take a strong stand on this we will be complicit in their violence – effectively we will be supporting terrorism.”

Earlier this year a judge criticised hate preacher and convicted terrorist supporter, Anjem Choudary, left, who told his followers: “Take Jihadi Seeker’s Allowance.”

When he was sentenced it was revealed the father-of-four had claimed up to £500,000 from the state.