UK probes Islamists' plot of taking over schools

UK police have zeroed in on at least 25 schools in Birmingham, Britain's second largest city, to investigate an alleged plot by Islamists to take over the curriculum.
The probe into the so-called 'Operation Trojan Horse' by Islamist hardliners, which came to light over the weekend, has been widened after Birmingham City Council said it had received over 200 reports in relation to inquiries it made to gauge the level of influence in the day-to-day running of schools.
Birmingham has a large Muslim population - nearly 22 per cent, according to the 2011 census.
Former head teacher Ian Kershaw has been appointed as chief advisor of the probe after an anonymous letter was sent to the city's authorities warning against the covert operation.

Kershaw will conduct a study and report to a newly-formed review group made up of MPs, police, councillors and faith groups.
His report will be published alongside a parallel investigation by the Department for Education (DfE) in May.

The 25 schools now being looked at include primaries, secondaries and academies.
The 200-plus reports to the council include emails and calls from staff, parents and governors.
"It is about the general specifics, the behaviour of the schools, what happens within the schools, the school day, the assembly," said Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council.
Concerns were raised last year when an undated and anonymous letter outlined a suspected plot, dubbed 'Operation Trojan Horse', which allegedly had already ousted four head teachers and brought about an adherence to more hardline Islamic principles.

The letter was apparently penned by someone in Birmingham to a contact in Bradford.
Sir Albert said the city council had spoken to local authorities in both Manchester and Bradford.
Since the allegations made in the Trojan Horse letter came to light, a number of school staff have come forward to make various statements.
These include claims of boys and girls being segregated in classrooms and assemblies, sex education being banned and non-Muslim staff bullied.
On a visit to Birmingham this month, Prime Minister David Cameron had said: "We will not accept any school being run by extremists or promoting extremist views.