1. Copy-only News Story Research:
For this part of my pre-productionof radio news programmes, I will be
gathering news stories onthe articleswhichare relatedtomy chose story. I
will gather the content and highlight the informationwhich I think is relevant
and what I will use inmy final news story.
A teenager who fled her home to join up with Islamic State was quizzed over viewing an
image of terrorist fighters on her college computer six months earlier. Salma Halane, 17,
from Chorlton, in Manchester, downloaded the grainy image which showed jihadi fighters
posing up in war-torn Syria December 2013. She had started her A-levels at Connell Sixth
Form College in Beswick just a few months earlier, reports Manchester Evening News. She
was confronted by a senior teacher after the download was spotted on the college's security
software.
The teenager told them she was scouring images from the conflict in an attempt to find
their older brother, who had travelled to fight in Syria.
After the twins, who had 28 GCSEs between them and who had hoped to become doctors,
ditched their lives in the comfortable south Manchester suburb, their father reportedly
travelled to Syria in a failed bid to coax them back home.
Staff at the school says they urged the teenager to speak to her parents to come to terms
with the conflict. However, just six months later, in June 2014, Salma and her sister Zahra
had fled to Syria to become 'jihadi' brides. One education source said the college could have
done more to quiz the teenager over her views after she had been caught looking at the
image - and potentially steered her away from fleeing into the hands of Isis. The source said:
"I have no doubt whatsoever that if someone at the college had followed this up with
Salma, she would still be in this country.
"I think there should have been a real concern that she was becoming radicalised."
However, college bosses deny the claimthey could have done more - and said a further
conversation with the teenager did take place.
They insist a file, which included Salma's online viewing records, was handed to anti-
terrorism police, who praised the sixth-form for what action they did take.
A spokesman for the college said the teenager's explanation that she was looking for her
brother was believable and there was no indication she intended to flee the country.
He said: "As part of the college's daily routine we review all internet browsing records.
"We promptly challenge students on anything that stands out during that review.
2. "In December 2013 we discovered that Salma Halane had viewed an image on a mainstream
news website in the hope of spotting her missing brother.
"Once it became clear that the girls had travelled to Syria, we handed over all computer
records to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU).
"These were reviewed and nothing was discovered that caused them concern and they were
satisfied that the Internet software in use at the College was the best of its kind and
commended the advanced online monitoring that is in place.
"We have since worked closely with the CTU and followed their guidance with regards to
staff and student communication surrounding this situation."
Source:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jihadi-bride-who-fled-uk-5305675
A senior member of the Somali community in Manchester said the young girl's comments
on the kitten were "disturbing," as the terrorist group continue to carry out violent
atrocities across Syria and Iraq.
"Everyone is really shocked the twins are still in Syria with these so-called jihadi fighters who
are carrying out such atrocities," he said, according to the Daily Mail.
"Also to talk about a missing cat like she was making a home is very disturbing. We, as a
Somali people, are all appalled by their actions but we are also desperately sad for their
family."
"They came to the UK to provide a better future for their children and to make sure they got
a good education. They don’t understand where it all went wrong."
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/10/british-female-jihadist-zahra-
halane_n_5796382.html
Source:
This website gave me the information about what number people should call if they fear
someone they know is becoming radicalised.
http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/tackling_crime/counter_terrorism/prevent/radicalisatio
n.aspx
3. Other sources I have usedand researchedduring this stage of my
assignment:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/jihadi-bride-
salma-halane-isis-8811263
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2988377/Terror-twin-ISIS-picture-computer-six-
months-went-Syria.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2703792/Twin-Manchester-schoolgirls-ran-away-
Syria-married-ISIS-fighters-mainly-stay-indoors-read-Quran-unless-jihadi-husbands-out.html
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/09/manchester-twins-sisters-salma-zahra-
halane-syria-threat
