School attended by returned would be-Isis teen enforced Friday prayers in English
New rules, including having a teacher present during the prayers, were also brought in three weeks ago
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Your support makes all the difference.The school attended by three teenage boys prevented from traveling in order to join Isis had changed its policy so that Friday prayers are in English.
Preston Manor School in Wembley, north London, introduced new rules – including that a teacher be present during prayers – three weeks ago, The Times understands.
The school’s actions come before a 17-year-old pupil was stopped in Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport over the weekend, along with his 19-year-old cousin and another 19-year-old man.
They were alleged to be planning to travel to join Isis, also known as the Islamic State.
The boys’ were prevented from travelling after their parents tipped off the Metropolitan Police, who informed Turkish authorities.
Brent councillor Mohammed Butt was informed by the boys’ parents after they searched the local mosque before discovering their sons’ passports were missing.
Mr Butt told The Times that he helped alert the police and described the boys’ return as a “happy ending”.
“I met the boys this morning. It just sounds like they have got caught up in the rush of emotion,” he said.
The trio were questioned for 24 hours on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts following their return, and bailed on Sunday evening.
The 17-year-old Preston Manor pupil has been described as an academically gifted student, who achieved A grades in his GCSE results last year and wanted to study medicine.
Previously a grammar school, Preston Manor converted to an academy in 2013. In 2005 Ofsted inspectors rated the school as “outstanding”.
Preston Manor School did not respond to requests for comment.
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