Washington: Europe, which for years viewed Saudi funding of mosques, educational institutions and foundations as benign aid from harmless benefactors, is now linking it with extremism in the continent.

European authorities have discovered several links between Saudi Arabia and extremists this year and Europe's police and intelligence forces have identified Saudi money and theology as a cause for growing radicalism and support for terrorism, according to the 'Wall Street Journal'.

In recent months, countries across the continent have launched inquiries into Saudi influence on their Muslim communities, which in some countries account for more than 10 per cent of the population and are growing rapidly due to immigration, the paper said.

The investigations focus especially on Saudi-backed schools, mosques and foundations that European police and intelligence officials allege help breed intolerance. In some cases, they say, the institutions have been the spiritual home to terrorists.

"We need to look at the organisation that is providing the money and support," says a German intelligence official who works for a new Government task force investigating Saudi influence of Islam in Germany.

Citing examples, the paper said, in Germany a diplomat was linked to a September 11 terrorist cell while an Imam at King Fahd Academy had called for 'jihad' and a Saudi-funded mosque was linked to alleged extremists.