Police investigate 'armed jihad call' at Didsbury Mosque

There are calls for a change of leadership at the Mosque in Manchester where Arena Bomber Salman Abedi previously worshipped.

It comes as recordings of a sermon reportedly encouraging Jihad emerged. Police say they're investigating the tapes.

Those who lead the mosque in Didsbury deny the accusations, and say the recordings are taken out of context.

Amy Welch reports:

A Muslim scholar says he had 'no doubt' a sermon at the mosque where the Manchester bomber worshipped called for the support of armed jihadist fighters.

An imam at Didsbury Mosque in December 2016 was recorded praying for "victory" for "our brothers and sisters right now in Aleppo and Syria and Iraq".

The imam, Mustafa Graf, says his sermon did not call for armed jihad and he has never preached radical Islam.

Usama Hasan, head of Islamic studies at Quilliam, a think tank that focuses on counter-extremism has listened to the recording and said it was an 'ignorant and irresponsible sermon' and could be seen as 'an incitement to act'.

Martin Hibbert from Chorley was left paralysed in the attack and his daughter was seriously injured.

He said claims the imam's sermon had been 'misinterpreted' was an insult to the victims.