Prince Charles slams radical Muslims living in the UK and calls for them to 'follow British values'

Prince Charles has hit out at radical Muslims in a rare public interview calling for those living in the UK to follow and respect British values.

The Prince of Wales said the increasing rate youngsters are becoming radicalised is "alarming" and "one of the greatest worries."

He is currently in Jordan for a six-day tour of the region but before he left he revealed his hope to "build bridges" in an interview with the BBC.

Speaking about the radicalisation of British youths, Prince Charles said: "Well, of course, this is one of the greatest worries, I think, and the extent to which this is happening is the alarming part.

"And particularly in a country like ours where you know the values we hold dear.

"You think that the people who have come here, [are] born here, go to school here, would imbibe those values and outlooks."

British authorities say around 600 Britons have travelled to Syria or Iraq, where Islamic State militants have seized swathes of territory.

About half of them have returned home, raising fears of a possible attack on British soil.

Prince Charles said: "The frightening part is that people can be so radicalised either through contact with somebody else or through the internet, and the extraordinary amount of crazy stuff which is on the internet."

ReutersHe added the reason young people are being radicalised is a "search for adventure and excitement at a particular age".

The Prince of Wales will also intervene in the case of a jailed Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and urge Saudi Arabia's new king to halt the punishment, it has been reported.

Charles is expected to also visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

His office is not commenting on his exact agenda and the content of any meetings until they are underway.

But the Mail on Sunday said the heir to the British throne would intervene in the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was arrested in June 2012 for offences including insulting Islam, cyber crime and disobeying his father, which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

It cited unnamed British diplomatic sources as saying the intervention might carry more clout given his royal status.

Badawi was sentenced last year to 10 years in jail, a fine, and the flogging.

Before he set off, Amnesty International urged Charles to seize the opportunity of his visit for "a frank discussion of human rights."