TEENAGERS and their parents were given a talk on the dangers of extremism from the founder of a counter-terrorism organisation.

Maajid Nawaz, the chairman of Quilliam, a counter-extremist organisaiton, spoke to students, parents and teachers at Brampton College, in Lodge Road, Barnet.

Mr Nawaz is a former member of the radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, but after his arrest in Egypt in 2001 he turned his life around.

The talk was all the more poignant given last Friday’s Paris attacks where 129 people were killed after explosions and shootings by militant group ISIS.

He spoke to them about the need for a secular democratic movement to create its own narrative to challenge the ISIS brand that has gained considerable support.

Mr Nawaz is an author and a former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn spoke openly about extremist ideologies.

Principal Bernard Canetti said: “Maajid Nawaz is an inspirational speaker, whom I first heard at the Campaign against Anti-Semitism rally in August 2014.

“It is a timely opportunity for our students to hear a key thinker of our time, who has a remarkable life-story and presents a voice of sanity and moderation as well as a call to action.”

Under Government rules, schools have a legal duty to prevent pupils from being drawn into terrorism.

Mr Canetti added: “It has been a long-term aim to promote a mutual understanding and respect for others’ religious beliefs amongst our students.

“In fact, students often comment about how Brampton has given them the opportunity to make friends for the first time with those from different backgrounds.”