By Steven Bell

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY is one of around 30 institutions across the UK that was used as a recruiting ground for terrorists by Islamic fundamentalists, according to a study to be published this week.

Co-author Professor Anthony Glees said that Dundee had been flagged up because of Shamsul Bahri Hussein, one of eight suspects wanted in connection with the Bali bombing in 2002.

It is believed Hussein was recruited by militants while studying applied mechanics at Dundee in the 1980s—and there are fears UK universities still provide fertile ground for “small but extremely dangerous” minority groups.

However, one expert on terrorism suggested last night that the situation in Dundee was probably no worse than elsewhere and that the university was being “unfairly” singled out based on one case.

The publication of the study, When Students Turn To Terror, coincides with a planned crackdown on radical student organisations by the Government.

Professor Glees told The Courier, “Dundee has been highlighted because of the presence there of Shamsul Bahri Hussein.

“He is somebody who is formally wanted for his alleged part in the Bali bombing, and he was at Dundee University.

“Recruitment by extreme groups does go on at university, and that appears to have been the case here.

“But it would be quite wrong to single out Dundee from the 30 or so other universities which have produced graduates who went on to commit terrorist acts.”

The professor, based at Brunel University, also said there were issues surrounding campus-based clubs and associations being allowed to operate without universities knowing what they are doing.

Last week Dundee’s two universities said they encourage freedom of expression among students, but would always report any “extremist” behaviour to the police.

It was reported yesterday that Dundee is one of the campuses being monitored by the Union of Jewish Students for extremist behaviour.

The organisation speculated that Dundee’s twinning link with the Palestinian city of Nablus might make it attractive to politically- motivated students, with the potential for their activity to “develop into radical Islamism.”

However local Islamic groups said they believed any extremist activity at Dundee University was “in the past” and that anyone promoting such views would not be welcome on campus.