Teen thought to be youngest British suicide bomber

The family of British 17-year-old Talha Asmal have expressed "grief" over reports that he has been killed while with Islamic State in Iraq.

Relatives say he was groomed and exploited by militants "too cowardly to do their own dirty work".

However, there are still questions over why he left his Dewsbury home for a life of extremism.

ITV News UK Editor Rohit Kachroo reports from West Yorkshire:

Rohit Kachroo: Similarities between radicalised Britons are 'striking'

British society must stay "vigilant" to spot signs of radicalisation in young people, Philip Hammond has said.

Talha Asmal, 17, reportedly became Britain's youngest suicide bomber when he blew himself up while fighting for Islamic State in Iraq.

Speaking about the teenager's death, the foreign secretary said: "Teachers, parents, social workers, people in the community all need to be vigilant and look for signs of early radicalisation."

A man once considered the "godfather" of the British jihadi movement has said there is no doubt a 17-year-old - who has apparently become Britain's youngest suicide bomber - was groomed.

Abu Muntasir, who used to recruit extremists, told Good Morning Britain that Talha Asmal had committed an "abhorrent crime" and said parents need to have more communication with their children to prevent similar tragedies.

"There is grooming, no doubt - I know how we used to convince people by ignoring a lot of facts on the ground, ignoring reality and alternative views amongst Muslims and Muslim teaching," he said.

"So the parents need to have more communication with their children, they need to have more of an overseeing aspect of how to be a good parent.

"It's totally despicable what he (Talha) has done, it is an abhorrent crime, and we should be very careful."

The family of Talha Asmal has said the teenager, who was reportedly killed while with Islamic State in Iraq, was targeted online and was the victim of "calculated grooming".

ITV News Correspondent Neil Connery reports:

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has said the reports that a British teen has become the UK's youngest suicide bomber after being killed while with Islamic State in Iraq are "very disturbing".

She said: "This is a very disturbing case - and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died or were injured in this appalling terrorist attack.

"This case shows how important it is for the Government to have a proper counter-terrorism strategy, which not only includes measures to track, monitor and prosecute terror suspects, but also includes a much stronger plan for community-led action to prevent young people being drawn towards the lies and hate filled ideology of Isil."

Family friend Shahid Malik said a community was grieving today after news that 17-year-old Talha Asmal has been reportedly killed while with Islamic State in Iraq.

Police have said they are unable to confirm the identity of a British national, believed by family members to be 17-year-old Talha Asmal, who was reportedly killed while with Islamic State in Iraq.

West Yorkshire Police issued the following statement:

At age 17 Talha Asmal is thought be Britain's youngest suicide bomber following reports of a young Briton killed in Iraq.

The family of British teenager Talha Asmal, 17 have expressed "grief" over reports that a young Britain had been killed while with Islamic State in Iraq.

His family paid tribute to the teenager as a "loving, kind, caring" boy who they said was exploited by extremists "in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming of him".