UK police concerned about wounded Malala's 'well-wishers'

Authorities are highly sensitive about Malala Yousufzai's security because the Taliban, who targeted her for advocating education for girls, say they would again try to kill the 14-year-old if she survived last week's attack.

Yousufzai was flown from Pakistan to Birmingham to receive specialist treatment after the shooting, which drew widespread condemnation. She has become a potent symbol of resistance to the radical Islamist group's effort to deny women an education.

“A number of people turned up claiming to be members of Malala's family which we don't believe to be true,” Dave Rosser, the hospital's medical director, told Britain's Sky News. “They didn't get very far. Security is well under control.”

Police said two people came to the hospital overnight wishing to see her but were questioned and turned away.

“They were stopped in a public area of the hospital and questioned by police, who recorded their details and advised the pair that they would not be allowed to see her,” West Midlands Police said in a statement, describing them as “well-wishers.”

There are a large number of Asian Muslims in Birmingham's population. The Pakistani diaspora in Britain is estimated to number 1.2 million.

Yousufzai has been in critical condition since gunmen shot her in the head and neck as she left school in Swat, northwest of Islamabad.

British doctors have said Yousufzai has every chance of making a “good recovery” at a special hospital unit expert in dealing with complex trauma cases. It has treated hundreds of soldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

“It's obvious that Malala will need reconstructive surgery. We have international experts in that field,” Rosser said, adding that she had had a comfortable night on Monday and that doctors are pleased with her progress.

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