Page 13 - ELG1707 Jul Issue 449

NEWS
TERROR FEARS DRIVING ITALIAN STUDENTS

AWAY FROM CENTRAL LONDON SCHOOLS

GIULIO JIANG bookings this year.
But he added, ‘For Londoners it
is business as usual. We have great
confidence in our security services,
and the chances of being directly
affected by a similar incident are
actually incredibly low.’
James Herbertson, director of
student accommodation agency
London Nest, told the Gazette
that, although agents have
received a lot of worried calls,
‘most people are of the view that
we should not let the acts of a few
Students are concened deter students from having the
over terror attacks in time of their lives’.
tourist hotspots Emma Buckby, sales and
marketing director at IH London,
said booking figures did not
By Claudia Civinini But Ialca vice-president Davide appreciate the fact that students generally show people had been
Fears over terrorism mean London Bresquar said that, while not are within walking distance from put off coming to London.
is losing popularity among Italian many students had cancelled their the school and don’t have to use
students who are now choosing bookings after recent terrorist public transport.’
smaller cities and countryside attacks, many families have asked He added, ‘Students
destinations for ‘peace of mind’, to cancel visits to London. are still travelling to the
travel agents say. ‘What was once the strongest UK – and those going 40 %
Italian agents’ association Ialca positive point for a school – being outside of London are
told the Gazette that some of its located in central London – has not worried at all.’
members had seen a 40 per cent now become almost a downside,’ Chair of English
drop in the number of enquiries explained Paolo Barillari, owner of UK London Mark drop in the number of
for London this year. Italy is Ialca member agency Lingue nel Rendell said that, enquiries for London
still the biggest market for UK Mondo in Rome. although many language schools
language schools, according to Mr Barillari said that some parts London schools
English UK figures, and bookings of London, such as the so-called are reporting good experienced by some
are thought to have remained ‘London villages’, are still very business, terrorist Italian travel agents
steady in recent months because attractive. ‘We have a big group attacks have had
of the weak pound following the of sixteen-year-olds in Wimbledon a ‘significant recent Source: IALCA
Brexit vote. right now,’ he explained. ‘Families impact’ on the number of

LONDON BRIDGE ATTACKER 'WAS OUR ENGLISH

TEACHER' SAY SPANISH STUDENTS

By Melanie Butler ‘seemed timid and withdrawn, John’ – completed a Cambridge
The ringleader of the London even surly, especially with female Celta course.
Bridge terror attack, Khuram students’. Westminster Bridge attacker
Butt, was a trainee EFL teacher, Cabello told La Vanguardia, ‘He Khalid Masood, who used a vehicle METRPOLIITAN POLICE
according to Spanish students he only addressed the men – as for us to mow down pedestrians in March
taught last July. women, he wouldn’t even look at before being shot dead by a security
Carlos Lopez and Adriana us. It was as if it upset him that we officer, taught English in Saudi
Cabello, now both living in were there and not back in our own Arabia and Luton despite having a
Barcelona, confirmed to the homes.’ criminal record for violent offenses.
newspaper La Vanguardia that they Butt, who had appeared on Active Learning School of
had been taught by Butt while British television waving an Isis English, which now appears to
enrolled in budget classes taught flag even before the attack and be closed, was accredited by the
by trainee teachers at the Active was killed by police shortly after British Council until mid-2015, one
Learning School of English at 181 the attack, is not the first Islamist year before Butt trained there. Its
Earls Court Road, London. terrorist to train as an EFL teacher. former Earls Court premises have
According to the students, Mohammed Emwazi – the British- since been acquired by the teacher-
Butt, who sported a bushy beard born Isis executioner killed in an training department of another Khuram Butt
and traditional Pakistani costume, airstrike who was dubbed ‘Jihadi language school.
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