Britain deputes armed guards for Malala after spy chief warns of raised threat to her life
The guards will be deputed round the clock to protect Malala
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai. PHOTO: AFP
It seems that a life in England may no longer be any safer than in Swat with police deputing two armed guards around Nobel Peace Prize winner and child rights activist Malala Yousufzai.
The guards, who will be deputed round the clock, have been tasked to protect the teenager because spy chiefs warn that threats against her have been growing.
“Her life's been at risk since that failed murder attempt. But threats have grown significantly as her profile has become bigger,” a source told The Sun.
“Being a Nobel winner and female education campaigner means she is seen as a global ambassador. Her elite police protection reflects this.”
This level of security is usually accorded to ministers or other political VIPs.
In October 2011, a gunman had intercepted her school van in Swat. After the then 14 year-old identified herself, the gunman opened fire hitting her in the head and injuring two of her friends. Thinking her to be dead, the gunman fled.
Malala, however, survived the attack. After initial treatment in Islamabad, she was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.
Since then, she has gone on to champion rights for the girl child and education for girls. Last year, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with India’s Kailash Satyarthi.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
The guards, who will be deputed round the clock, have been tasked to protect the teenager because spy chiefs warn that threats against her have been growing.
“Her life's been at risk since that failed murder attempt. But threats have grown significantly as her profile has become bigger,” a source told The Sun.
“Being a Nobel winner and female education campaigner means she is seen as a global ambassador. Her elite police protection reflects this.”
This level of security is usually accorded to ministers or other political VIPs.
In October 2011, a gunman had intercepted her school van in Swat. After the then 14 year-old identified herself, the gunman opened fire hitting her in the head and injuring two of her friends. Thinking her to be dead, the gunman fled.
Malala, however, survived the attack. After initial treatment in Islamabad, she was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.
Since then, she has gone on to champion rights for the girl child and education for girls. Last year, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with India’s Kailash Satyarthi.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.