Students at Mirfield Grammar School will have access to counselling after unconfirmed reports that fellow student Talha Asmal has become the UK’s youngest suicide bomber.
Mirfield Free Grammar School refused to comment on reports that student Talha Asmal is thought to be the young man who set off a car bomb in the northern Iraqi town of Baiji last night.
But the teenager’s family have said pictures released by terrorists are of their son.
The school said they have a full-time counsellor in school for anyone who may need support.
Lorraine Barker Executive Principal said: “We are aware of media reports relating to one of our Sixth Form students and we are working with the authorities. Until the reports are confirmed we are not able to comment.”
The 17-year-old was studying ICT and business at Mirfield Free Grammar School.
Mrs Barker previously said Asmal was a “typical teenager”.
“He didn’t draw any attention to himself, he was just a conscientious student,” she said.
Asmal was believed to have flown to Syria via Turkey from Manchester airport with his friend, Hassan Munshi, allegedly to join Isis.
The suicide attacks are thought to have occurred in Iraq’s Salahuddin province.
His family have said they had been left “utterly devastated and heartbroken by the unspeakable tragedy” and those who sent him to his death had preyed on his “innocence and vulnerability”.
Asmal has been described as “a loving, kind, caring and affable teenager”, who never harboured any ill will against anybody.
