Brit Islamic extremist 'focusing on Aust'

Muslim leaders and security officials are reportedly concerned about the influence of an extremist British Islamic preacher who is gaining a following among young Australians via YouTube and Facebook.

Abu Haleema was arrested on terrorism offences in Britain last year and has had his passport cancelled, Fairfax Media reported on Thursday.

It's unclear why he has chosen to focus on Australia, but his online sermons, in which he recently attacked moderate Sydney sheikhs Shady Alsuleiman and Wesam Charkawi, are apparently being well received.

He had 7000 followers on his Facebook page before it was shut down in December, including several men targeted in counter-terrorism raids in Sydney.

The preacher allegedly also has links to Melbourne-born Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash and played a role in radicalising a 14-year-old British boy who allegedly encouraged an Australian teen to carry out a terrorist attack on Anzac day in Melbourne.