The London Evening Standard yesterday published a remarkable report on the attitudes of a group of Muslim youths in Luton. Here's a flavour of their remarks:

'"As far as I'm concerned, when they bomb London, the bigger the better," says Abdul Haq, the social worker. "I know it's going to happen because Sheikh bin Laden said so. Like Bali, like Turkey, like Madrid - I pray for it, I look forward to the day." "Pass the brown sauce, brother," says Abu Malaahim, the IT specialist, devouring his chicken and chips. "I agree with you, brother," says Abu Yusuf, the earnest-looking financial adviser sitting opposite. "I would like to see the Mujahideen coming into London and killing thousands, whether with nuclear weapons or germ warfare. And if they need a safehouse, they can stay in mine - and if they need some fertiliser [for a bomb], I'll tell them where to get it." His friend, Abu Musa, the security guard, smiles radiantly. "It will be a day of joy for me," he adds, speaking with a slight lisp.'

These boys were all educated, from comfortable, moderate homes. At least some of them appeared to have been radicalised by Omar Bakri Mohamed, the head of the extremist group al Muhajiroun. One said:

'"I am a Muslim living in Britain, and I give my allegiance only to Allah." According to Sayful, the aim of al-Muhajiroun ("the immigrants") is nothing less than Khilafah - "the worldwide domination of Islam". The way to achieve this, he says, is by Jihad, led by Bin Laden. "I support him 100 per cent." Does that support extend to violent acts of terrorism in the UK? "Yes," he replies, unequivocally. "When a bomb attack happens here, I won't be against it, even if it kills my own children.'

The article quoted a local Muslim leader dismissing these boys as atypical -- the Muslim equivalent of the BNP. They themselves had a different perspective:

'But Sayful and his friends laugh at the idea that they are local pariahs. "The mosques say one thing to the public, and something else to us. Let's just say that the face you see and the face we see are two different faces," says Abdul Haq. "Believe me," adds Musa, "behind closed doors, there are no moderate Muslims." '

Whatever the truth of this, the bottom line is surely that it remains simply incredible that this country still does nothing to stop Omar Bakri Mohamed, and others like him, from brainwashing these young people into such appalling and demented attitudes. When are we going to to wake up from this trance?