‘No evidence’ girls were radicalised at school

The headteacher of the school attended by three teenage girls believed to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State has said police found no evidence that the missing students were radicalised there.

Mark Keary, principal of Bethnal Green Academy, east London, said they were “shocked and saddened” by the disappearance of 16-year-old Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both 15.

Police spoke to the girls after another student disappeared in December and indicated at the time there was no evidence that they were at risk of being radicalised or absconding, Keary said.