By Ben Thompson
The family of 12-year-old school girl Shukri Abdi, who was found dead after last being seen by the River Irwell in Bury, claim that she was being bullied at school and reject claims that her death was an accident.
Abdi’s family, who had recently arrived in the UK as asylum seekers from Somalia, say that the young girl was bullied at Broad Oak Sports College because of her background.
Although Greater Manchester Police have asserted that Abdi’s death is not suspicious, Abdi’s mother, Zamzam Canab Ture, believes she is being “denied the truth“.
In a statement, head teacher Paul Greenhalgh said that the trust that runs the school will be conducting a review into the school’s ‘anti-bullying policy and procedures and other policies relating to the welfare of children.’
This latest incident comes after the death of popular teacher Caroline Bailey in 2012, who worked at the school for 23 years. The inquest into the senior teacher’s death heard that she had been subjected to ‘strategic bullying’ by her colleagues.
A petition calling for an investigation into the school’s bullying policy has gained 57,000 signatures at the time writing. Addressed to Bury North MP, James Frith, the petition states:
‘We the undersigned community of Bury, Lancashire and all communities across the UK demand James Frith MP and the Local Education Authority of Bury, Lancashire to investigate Broad Oak High School for potential negligence and a potential breach of its duty of care towards its pupils in light of accusations of failure to address incidents of bullying.
‘In addition, we also demand Greater Manchester Police to conduct a full transparent investigation into the circumstances leading upto and surrounding this tragedy.’
MP James Frith has responded to the petition via Twitter stating his plans to meet the family of Shukri and offering his sympathies.
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