The Jihadis Next Door removed from Netflix
David Farnor | On 08, Jun 2017
The Jihadis Next Door is no longer available on Netflix and All 4, following the discovery that it featured one of the London Bridge terrorists.
Channel 4’s documentary, which premiered in January last year, promised “extraordinary access to a new wave of extremists in the UK”, described by the broadcaster as a film that “challenges the behaviour and motivations of, a new wave of extremists in the UK, including Abu Rumaysah who’s suspected of appearing in an Isis execution video”.
Also included in the programme was Khuram Butt, one of the perpetrators of the London Bridge attack at the weekend, which killed 22 people. Butt was shot dead, alongside Youssef Zaghba and Rachid Redouane, within minutes of them carrying out the attack by armed police officers. Investigations continue into the attack, with multiple people arrested. During the course of those investigations, it has become apparent that Butt was featured in the Channel 4 documentary, which saw him appear at events alongside two extremist preachers, who were already known to the police and intelligence services.
The Guardian reports that the documentary makers filmed an incident at Regent’s Park, where a black flag associated with Isis was unfurled. The police questioned the men and asked director Jamie Roberts for the footage, but Channel 4 told the newspaper that it advised Roberts not to hand it over in front of those he was filming, as it could put him in danger. The footage was subsequently held securely, but no formal requests under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act or Terrorism Act were made by the police to obtain the footage.
“We intend to work with the police in respect to any requests for footage they might make as part of their ongoing anti-terror investigations,” Channel 4 commented.
The documentary has now been removed from Netflix, reportedly at the request of distributor Mentorn Media. The film is also no longer available on All 4, although Channel 4 says this is because its rights have expired for the title.