School where three 'Syria-bound' girls studied had 'measures to combat radicalism'

THE school where the three missing girls who are feared to have travelled to Syria were studying is said to have put measures in place to combat radicalism, it has emerged.

Stills taken from CCTV showing the missing girlsPA

Stills taken from CCTV issued by the Metropolitan Police

Bethnal Green Academy in east London is believed to have taken action after a 15-year-old female pupil travelled to war-torn Syria in December, according to The Times.

Last night Commander Richard Walton, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terror command, said he had "no problem" with how the school was tackling the issue.

The academy achieved "outstanding" status in all categories by Ofsted - a regulatory government service for schools - in 2012.

Principle Mark Keary said at the time: "We have extremely high expectations about behaviour and attitudes towards others."

Today fears are continuing to grow for Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and an unnamed 15-year-old who are understood to have flown from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday.

The youngsters, who police fear may be heading to join Islamic State (IS), were described as "straight-A pupils" at the Academy.

They were last seen on Tuesday morning at their respective homes where they gave their families "plausible reasons" to be out for the day.

Instead they are understood to have met and travelled to Gatwick Airport where they then boarded a Turkish Airlines flight which landed in Istanbul that evening.

Kadiza Sultana and Shamima BegumPA

Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum

Earlier today, Prime Minister David Cameron said the disappearance of the three girls highlights that everyone has a role to play in fighting against Islamist extremists.

Mr Cameron said: "It is deeply concerning and obviously our authorities will do everything we can to help these girls.

"But it does make a broader point which is the fight against Islamist extremist terror is not just one that we can wage by the police and border control.

"It needs every school, every university, every college, every community to recognise they have a role to play.

It is deeply concerning and obviously our authorities will do everything we can to help these girls

David Cameron

"We all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult."

Following the announcement of their disappearance, a spokesman for the East London Mosque said the girls had likely been "misled" and "manipulated".

Salman Farsi said: "They have been misled. I do not know what was promised to them.

"It is just sad. We have not had anything like this before in our community.

"I do not know what was told to them but if they do go to Syria, it is a war zone and there are serious ramifications for going in to a war zone.

"Some of the things we have seen happening in Syria are not very nice. We just want to see them brought back.

"I think the girls need to know they have done nothing wrong. They have been manipulated."

• Anyone with information is being urged to call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline number on 0800 789 321

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