It is thought one of the London Bridge attackers tried to radicalise young people in Redbridge and police are talking to schools in the borough.

The Recorder has confirmed from multiple trusted sources that Khuram Butt, 27, tried to reach out to children in an attempt to pass on his ideology.

The sources verified that police, as part of their investigation, were talking to “schools in the area”.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating lots of different lines of inquiry including Butt’s activites with young people in Redbridge”.

It has also been confirmed that Butt trained at the Ummah Fitness Centre, St Luke’s Avenue, Ilford, which held a range of classes.

The gym posted a statement on its door condemning the attacks and urging the community to stand together.

The Recorder has contacted residents who used the centre and they said that Butt did not attempt to share his beliefs in front of them.

Resident Mohammad Omar, who works for several different organisations in borough, said the community is “always concerned about radicalisation”.

“We will do anything in our power to make sure that this doesn’t happen,” he said.

“It is our children - I don’t want my children doing that.

“We are law abiding citizens and anybody who tries to destroy the security of our country should be brought to justice.”

Vaseem Ahmed, chairman of Redbridge Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), was shocked by the London Bridge attack and what he found particularly shocking was that young people in the borough were being targeted.

“We will be going out as, we have always done, to get young people engaged in activities that positively contribute to society in Redbridge,” he said.

“We will certainly do more activities with people of all faiths.”

Headteacher at Al-Noor Primary School, Green Lane, Goodmayes, Someera Butt is shaken and shocked by the London Bridge terror attacks but confirmed that pupils at her school had not been targeted.

She said: “In a December Ofsted report the school’s work in combating radicalisation and extremism in line with Prevent was very strong.

“We are absolutely appalled by the terror attack and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families.

“We are hand in hand with our fellow citizens against all forms of terrorism – as the Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations (FORMO) said, we can’t let the terrorists win.”

Redbridge Council have been contacted.