Mar 02, 2015 11:38 AM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

In the wake of reports that the Islamic State's British-accented killer of Western hostages is Mohammed Emwazi, an alumnus of the University of Westminster, the school is facing scrutiny over whether it is a "hotbed for Islamic extremism," Inside Higher Ed reported.  

The British press has referred to Emwazi as the "Jihadi John" for the gruesome videos in which he beheads people Isis has kidnapped.

University officials issued a statement late last week regarding the alumnus Emnazi, who left the university six years ago and is alleged to be involved in terrorist activities.

"If the allegations of terrorist activity are true, we are shocked and sickened by the news. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," school officials said in a statement. "We have students from 150 countries and their safety is of paramount concern. With other universities in London, we are working to implement the government's Prevent strategy to tackle extremism. "

The university is also calling off for now a lecture called "Who is Muhammad?" because of "increased sensitivity and security concerns," officials announced on Twitter.

Sheikh Haitham Al-Haddad was supposed to be one of the featured speakers at this lecture, but gay and women's groups questioned why the university would host a person "who has called for gay sex to be criminalized and who has spoken in favor of female genital mutilation," Inside Higher Ed reported.

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