The chair of governors at a London school has confirmed pupils were abused by a profilic child predator who took his own life last month. British detectives are helping an international investigation into William-James Vahey (64), who abused at least 90 known victims around the world.
He killed himself in a Minnesota motel room on March 21st - two days after FBI agents filed for a warrant to search a computer thumb drive containing child abuse images featuring at least 90 children aged from 12-14.
Former Chief Inspector of Schools in England, Chris Woodhead, says he discovered children at the Southbank International School had been targeted after receiving information from British police, who in turn were informed by the FBI.
Police broke the news to staff at the stg£25,000 (€30,391) a year school this morning and Mr. Woodhead is sending a letter to parents this afternoon.
The victims on Vahey's computer drive appeared drugged and unconscious in the images dating back to 2008 - although FBI agents believe he may have abused children on an unprecedented scale during a teaching career spanning more than 40 years and at least 10 countries.
In 2008 the history and geography teacher was working in Venezuela before moving to London. He taught pupils aged 11-16 at the Southbank International School from 2009-2013.
Sleeping pills prior to molestation
The thumb drive was handed to the US Embassy by one of Vahey's co-workers at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua after it was discovered by one of his domestic staff, who first raised the alarm.
In a statement on its website the FBI said "When confronted about the images by a school administrator, Vahey confessed that he was molested as a child and had preyed on boys his entire life, giving them sleeping pills prior to the molestation".
The FBI is appealing for public help to identify potential victims, who appear to have been abused during overnight field trips led by the US citizen.
Parents have been showing "considerable concern" after receiving confirmation that Vahey took part in several field trips while working at the London school. One couple said Vahey was their 13-year-old son's teacher last year - they found out about his crimes last night.
Vahey through the years, as seen in an FBI poster
The mother said "I couldn't sleep for worrying about it and I had to sit my son down and ask him if anything had ever happened in school. Mr. Vahey also took my son on a field trip abroad and this is a big concern for us.
"My son is fine though and I would have expected his behaviour to change if anything happened so I don't think anything did. I know there are pictures that police have of boys but if my son is on the list, I don't want to know and I don't want him to know".
Jailed for child molestation in 1969
The school's chair of governors and Chris Woodhead told the Guardian that criminal records bureau checks had been carried out and the school was "deeply, deeply shocked" by the FBI's announcement.
The newspaper said families are to be offered psychological counselling.
The FBI said Vahey was jailed for child molestation in California in 1969, but the conviction does not appear to have shown up when checked by schools.
FBI special agent Patrick Fransen said some of the alleged victims may not know they were abused.
He said "He created a system that gave him the opportunity and the means to molest children. The manner in which he committed these acts - while the boys were unconscious - may have inhibited them from knowing what happened, making it impossible for them to come forward at the time".
He added "I've never seen another case where an individual may have molested this many children over such a long period of time".
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said "Officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Investigation Team are assessing and evaluating intelligence passed to the MPS by US authorities, and actively seeking any evidence whilst working with partner agencies to ensure that potential victims are supported".
