Muslim boy, 10, probed for 'terrorist house' spelling error

By Rahila Bano

BBC Asian Network

A 10-year-old Muslim boy who mistakenly wrote that he lived in a "terrorist house" during an English lesson at school has been investigated by police.

The pupil, who attends a primary school in Lancashire, meant to say he lived in a "terraced house".

The boy was interviewed by Lancashire Police at his home the next day and the family laptop was examined.

Teachers have been legally obliged to report any suspected extremist behaviour to police since July.

The boy's family said they were left shocked by the 7 December incident and want both the school and police to apologise.

'He's now scared'

In order to protect the boy's identity, the BBC is not naming his cousin, who said she initially thought it was all a "joke".

"You can imagine it happening to a 30-year-old man, but not to a young child," she said. "If the teacher had any concerns it should have been about his spelling.

"They shouldn't be putting a child through this.

"He's now scared of writing, using his imagination."

The 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act places a statutory duty on schools and colleges to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

Critics argue teachers are overreacting for fear of breaking the law, rather than using their common sense.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-35354061