Ex-Scotland Yard top cop to probe Islamist plot in UK schools

A former top counter-terrorism officer of Scotland Yard will lead the investigation into an alleged plot by Islamist radicals to take over the functioning of schools in the British city of Birmingham.
Peter Clarke, the former head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, has been charged with leading the inquiry which was widened to at least 25 Birmingham schools into the plot dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse".
However, the UK Department for Education (DfE) came under criticism for the association with Islamic terrorism that the move will inevitably lead to as Clarke was the anti-terror chief who also oversaw the July 7, 2005 London bombings probe.

"Peter Clarke has many qualities but people will inevitably draw unwarranted conclusions from his former role as National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism," warned Chris Sims, chief constable of West Midlands Police.
The alleged plot was exposed when anonymous claims were made in a letter sent to local authorities last year.
The letter, which outlined the plot that forced a change of leadership at four schools, gave instructions on ousting and replacing uncooperative schoolteachers and imposing Islamic principles.

The so-called "Operation Trojan Horse" letter was apparently written from Birmingham to someone in Bradford.
Since the allegations made in the letter came to light, many school staff have come forward with various statements.

These include claims of boys and girls being segregated in classrooms and assemblies, sex education being banned and non-Muslim staff bullied.
Clarke, who has been appointed as education commissioner, is due to report back with his findings in a few months and his remit will cover local council-run primary and secondary schools as well as academies.
Explaining the appointment, UK education secretary Michael Gove said, "I have already asked OFSTED [schools inspectorate] to inspect a number of schools of concern and these investigations are ongoing. But wider, more comprehensive action is needed.
"These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to persist.

"I have tasked Peter Clarke with getting to the bottom of these allegations, so schools in Birmingham can continue the excellent progress that so many have been making," he said.
Birmingham city council has appointed its own special investigator for six months to investigate the claims. It follows announcements of separate inquiries by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the DfE.
The council's investigation, running in parallel to the DfE's inquiry, is due to initially report back in May.