Hazel Blears has warned Britain's Muslim community to face being targeted by the police because of the threat from an extreme form of Islam.

The counter-terrorism minister's comments sparked criticism from Muslim leaders and the National Black Police Association for her "intemperate" comments.

Blears told MPs: "At the moment the threat is more likely to come from those associated with a most extreme form of Islam or who are falsely hiding behind Islam.

"It means that some of our counter-terrorism powers will be disproportionately experienced by people in the Muslim community. There is no getting away from the fact."

The minister made her comments when she gave evidence to the Commons home affairs committee's inquiry into terrorism and the effects that counter-terrorism measures have on community relations.