The two young men from Kentish Town who left the UK to fight for Islamic State (IS) in Syria are former pupils of Acland Burghley School.

Islington Gazette: Acland Burghley SchoolAcland Burghley School (Image: Archant)

Brothers Khayerul Miah, 21, and Thahirul, 23, fled their home earlier this year. One of them is suspected to have died while fighting for the terrorist network, it has been reported.

Khayerul attended the Tufnell Park school between 2006 and 2012, while Thahirul was a pupil between 2003 and 2009.

They are both sons of Torriano Primary School nursery teacher Rana Begum. Their father is Shamshad Miah, who sits on the executive committee of Baitul Aman Mosque in Kentish Town.

Acland Burghley School in Burghley Road has declined to comment.

The Ham&High has approached the Baitul Aman Mosque for a statement.

Earlier today, Ms Begum was said to completely renounce her sons’ activities in a statement released by Torriano Primary.

Their decision to join IS was described as a “personal tragedy” for the family.

Today neighbours universally described Ms Begum as a “fantastic woman”.

One neighbour told the Ham&High: “She is a wonderful person and her children were well-educated. But there’s nothing you can do about it when your children are grown up.”

Asked if she was shocked to find that her former neighbours were IS recruits, she replied: “In London, nothing shocks me anymore.”

Another neighbour said of Ms Begum: “She’s nice. I see her from time to time.”

Torriano Primary School said in a statement to press and in a letter to parents that there was no indication that their mother had radicalised her children and that there was no threat to pupils at the school.

The school in Torriano Avenue, Kentish Town, is holding meetings for parents who may have questions tomorrow at 9am in the Infant Building Hall.