Shocking footage has emerged of a girl as young as eight speaking of her love for Jihad and the Syrian uprising during a video filmed at a Muslim conference in Sydney.The little girl made the controversial comments as she addressed a crowd at an Islamic gathering, while the Australian city continued to deal with the fallout from violent riots at the weekend.The girl - named only as eight-year-old Ruqaya - was filmed speaking during a 'Muslims Rise' conference held by the Australian chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bankstown, west Sydney.

Authorities are now investigating the background of the little girl, who was filmed describing her love of jihad - a holy war or spiritual struggle - as well as the violent uprising in Syria and the global community, which is known as Ummah, it was reported.

According to 9News, the video shows the little girl saying: 'These uprisings have demonstrated that this Ummah is alive and well, that her sentiments are for Islam, her love is for Jihad, she has unshackled herself from the fear which she held.

'Children as young as myself can be seen on the streets joining the uprisings, risking their lives to bring food, water and medicine to their wounded family members, some of them never returning to their mothers ... Nobody is too young.'

Sydney was the scene of violent rioting at the weekend, as part of demonstrations all over the world were held in protest against an U.S.-produced anti-Islam video.

Demonstrators clashed with police in the Australian city, with 17 injured and six arrested and charged on Saturday.