Mosque denies Trojan Horse threat at east London schools

From East London Lines and the London Evening Standard

The East London Mosque has claimed there is “no problem” of extremism in Tower Hamlets, following claims by a senior Ofsted official that a Trojan Horse plot is “likely” in London.

Mike Sheridan, Ofsted’s regional director for London, has said more action is needed to prevent the spread of extremism in schools across the capital.

Asked if there could be a Trojan Horse plot in London, he admitted it was a possibility, but added: “I don’t know if there is one. Do I think people will see opportunities with schools and colleges to influence the thinking of people? It is probably likely.” He added that schools and colleges were obvious places for perpetrators to target if they wanted to find vulnerable young people to influence. He said: “We know there are people with views we don’t want them [children] to be exposed to. “Is it a big conspiracy? I don’t know. We don’t know until we know…”

However, a spokesperson from the East London Mosque was not concerned by Sheridan’s comments. “There is no problem. There is a wider issue to do with extremism which we are addressing in generaL,” he said.

East London schools are particularly concerned after seven institutions in the area were named in a review following the plots in Birmingham last year. Bethnal Green Academy, which had four female students fly to Syria to join Isis earlier this year and The Sir John Cass Redcoat School – another school previously identified as a risk by the Government – both declined to comment.