Sir Keir Starmer will be grilled at PMQs after announcing a public inquiry into the Southport killings and vowing to leave no stone unturned in identifying potential failings.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted on Monday to murdering three girls aged between six and nine after his frenzied knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Merseyside last year.
The then-17-year-old travelled five miles from his family home to the Hart Space, where he ambushed the youngsters. Since then, The Community Church, which his father attended, revealed the killer’s family have been moved to a secret location for their protection.
“The Rudakubana family have been devastated following this terrible incident and they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home in Banks to a secret location that we are unaware of,” it said.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday, Sir Keir promised action to end how “shockingly easy” it is for children to buy knives, including forcing online retailers to put in place tougher checks.
Key Points
- Keir Starmer to be grilled at PMQs after announcing Southport inquiry
- Axel Rudakubana’s family ‘devastated’ and living in secret location
- Southport killer bought a knife from Amazon aged 17
- Starmer promises action to end ‘shockingly easy’ access to knives online
- Merseyside Police ‘gagged’ by CPS, reporters warn
Starmer to be grilled at PMQs after launching inquiry into Southport attack
11:08
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer is set to be grilled at PMQs after announcing a public inquiry into the Southport killings, and vowing to leave no stone unturned in identifying potential failings ahead of the July attack.
Following Axel Rudakubana’s guilty plea on Monday, it emerged that the killer had been referred to anti-terror scheme Prevent three times prior to the attack in which he murdered three young girls and attempted to kill 10 others.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday, the prime minister firmly rejected suggestions of a cover-up by Reform and the Conservatives, saying he would have risked leaving the Southport victims’ families without justice by making information about Rudakubana public ahead of the trial.
Prosecutors will reveal further information about Rudakubana on Thursday ahead of his sentencing.
Ex-Met Assistant Commissioner urges increase in counter terrorism resources or warns lone attackers will keep slipping through net
10:23
,
Tara Cobham
The former head of counter terrorism policing has called for an urgent increase in resources for counter terrorism or feared lone attackers like Axel Rudakubana will continue to slip through the net.
A public inquiry into the Southport killer was announced on Monday after it emerged he had “contact with a range of different state agencies throughout his teenage years”, according to the home secretary, including three referrals to government anti-extremism scheme Prevent before the killings due to concerns about his obsession with violence.
Former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu described these agencies as “unfunded, untrained, [and] largely staffed by frontline staff who are overwhelmed by demand”, warning: “This will come with a big bill, but that bill has got to be paid if we want to be safe.”
Ex-UK counter terrorism chief brands government plan to extend terrorism definition a ‘mistake’
09:46
,
Tara Cobham
The former head of counter terrorism policing in the UK has branded the government’s proposal to extend the definition of terrorism to encompass atrocities carried out by lone attackers like the Southport killer “a mistake” .
Former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu explained that violent individuals could “revel” in being called a terrorist as he also warned against the use of the term “lone wolf” for risk of “glorifying” perpetrators.
Rudakubana described as ‘ticking time bomb’ by former classmate
09:04
,
Tara Cobham
After his guilty plea, fresh details emerged claiming Axel Rudakubana had been excluded from secondary school over allegations he was carrying a knife and later returned to attack someone with a hockey stick.
One former classmate told The Guardian he was a “ticking time bomb”, while others told The Times he was an odd pupil who would be disruptive in class, to the point that the phrase “doing an Axel” had become common among the class.
Garage owner tells of confronting killer moments before hearing screams from young girls’ holiday class
09:01
,
Tara Cobham
A garage owner who confronted Axel Rudakubana just before the Southport attack said he had no idea of the “unspeakable” horror the agitated teen was about to unleash – as he called for him to never see the light of day again.
Reliving the horrific events for the first time since 18-year-old Rudakubana pleaded guilty, Colin Parry said all he could see was the killer’s eyes when the knifeman, wearing a bright green hoodie and Covid face mask, arrived on Hart Street in a taxi and took a wrong turn into the entrance of his garage.
When the 63-year-old swore at him and told him to pay the driver, who had followed to demand payment, Rudakubana leant forward and replied: “What you gonna do?”
“He’s agitated, shuffling around because the lad realises he’s in the wrong place, yeah, and walks out,” he told The Independent. “Doesn’t run out. He just walked out, but he pushed past the taxi.”
Moments later screams were heard from the Hart Space studio next door, where 26 girls were making bracelets and singing at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday class. By the time Mr Parry arrived at the scene, his colleague was running out carrying an injured child who he laid on the floor in front of him. His white spray suit was soaked red with blood, he recalled.
Review of terror law would be a mistake, experts warn PM after Southport murders
09:00
,
Tara Cobham
Expanding terror laws to encompass atrocities carried out by lone attackers like the Southport killer would be a mistake – and such threats are not new, security experts have warned.
Sir Keir Starmer announced a review of terror laws to address “extreme violence carried out by loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms” following the Southport murders.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.
Read more here:
Full story: Starmer promises action to end ‘shockingly easy’ access to knives online
08:46
,
Tara Cobham
Online retailers will be forced to put in place tougher checks to stop youngsters buying knives after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it is “shockingly easy” for children to buy blades.
Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana used a knife bought from Amazon to kill three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.
The Government has promised new laws, which could see retailers forced to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification.
Read the full story here:
Lord Carlile backs calls for government to crack down on online retailers selling knives to under-18s
08:45
,
Tara Cobham
Lord Carlile has backed calls for the Government to crack down on online retailers selling knives to under-18s.
It comes after it was revealed Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was able to order a knife on Amazon when he was still aged 17 and had been convicted over violence.
The sale of knives with a fixed blade of more than three inches long to under-18s is illegal in England and Wales, with retailers facing fines or prosecution if they breach the law.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Lord Alex Carlile said: “The companies concerned have indicated that they’re capable of doing online scans while people are going onto their sites, which are a rudimentary but reasonably reliant test of their age.
“And, also, we all have some form of identity.
“Students often have identity cards for their student lives, and so I don’t see any reason why people who are buying things online should not have to establish that they’re at appropriate age to buy those things online.
“It’s no different from going into a bar and being refused service without proving that one is over 18.”
Lord Carlile calls for more regulation of social media companies after Southport attack
08:44
,
Tara Cobham
Lord Carlile has called for more regulation of social media companies to prevent potential perpetrators from “learning how to be a terrorist online” in the wake of the Southport stabbing attack.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Lord Alex Carlile said: “It is absolutely clear that the online companies are not prepared to scrutinise the content of what is placed on their sites in a way that will ensure that our children and grandchildren do not see dreadful things online when they’re not mature enough to be able to exercise a critical faculty over them.
“So, given that the internet companies are not prepared to do what they should voluntarily agree to carry out, it is time for a regulatory regime to be established which does not question the right of free speech, but which protects the public from unlawful acts.
“If the internet companies are not prepared to do it, then the sanction is on governments – not just our government, but many other governments.
“And as we saw in America earlier in the week, one can switch off the site – Tiktok was switched off for a day.
“Also, they can be fined, fines based upon their world turnover, very big fines.
“So, it is time that we looked at having a proper regulatory regime for our own country, doing what we have to do first, protecting our own country and our own citizens to ensure that people like this perpetrator are not able to learn how to be a terrorist online.”
Employment minister defends new measures to use two-factor identification to buy knives
08:43
,
Tara Cobham
New measures to use two-factor identification to prevent underage people from buying knives are needed to stop the “absolute devastation” caused by the flow of knives, a minister has said.
Employment minister Alison McGovern was asked about plans for two-factor identification to prevent people who are not old enough to buy knives and whether the technology is workable.
She told BBC Breakfast: “Knife crime is horrendous and we have got to have the new measures that you just mentioned, because we cannot have this flow of knives that can cause such absolute devastation.
“We know that the technology is there to improve verification checks and I think that everyone would want that, every business, every organisation.
“So, the Government will work with organisations to bring in every possible protection to stop knives getting into the wrong hands.”
She said the Government wants to work with retailers but that “in the end, we’ve got to have the right checks in place” and “look at every measure that we can bring forward through legislation”.
Government will take steps to tighten legislation and limit access to knives, minister vows
08:40
,
Tara Cobham
The Government will take steps to tighten legislation and limit access to knives, a minister has said.
“Where we need to tighten legislation so that we limit people’s access to knives that can do such a damage, we will take those steps,” employment minister Alison McGovern told Sky News.
Asked if Amazon would be punished for selling a knife to the Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, she said that information would come out in the inquiry.
“We’ve got to have the right powers to stop this,” she said.
She added: “We know that knife crime is an issue. It’s a real issue and we’ve got to take every possible step to stop the flow of knives.”
Lord Carlile says police forces ‘should have been more open’ about Southport investigation
08:39
,
Tara Cobham
Lord Carlile has said police forces “should have been more open” about their investigation of the Southport stabbing attack.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Lord Alex Carlile said: “I think the police should have been more open.
“In one instance, they should have made it absolutely clear right from the beginning that this perpetrator was not an immigrant, that he was British-born and had lived in Britain throughout his life.
“It was the false disinformation at saying that he was an immigrant or a recent immigrant that contributed at least to the extent of riots both in Southport and elsewhere.”
Lord Carlile blames authorities’ ‘failure to communicate’ over Southport murders
08:36
,
Tara Cobham
Lord Carlile has said a “failure to communicate” enabled the Southport killer to carry out the murders after it was revealed the teenager had been referred to safeguarding services, children social care and mental health services prior to the attack.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Lord Alex Carlile said: “This is not the first case where the failure to share information has caused very serious offences.
“There have been many before, possibly because of a mistaken belief that it is not right in law to share information about someone who is very vulnerable.
“That is completely wrong.
“Information of this kind should always be shared and it should help to avoid incidents like this in the future.
“We do need to be sure that where people are vulnerable, as this perpetrator certainly was, to becoming very dangerous, then there has to be full sharing of information.”
Exclusive: Man who confronted Axel Rudakubana had no idea of ‘unspeakable’ horror ahead
07:00
,
Alexander Butler
Merseyside Police ‘gagged’ by CPS, reporters warn
05:00
,
Alexander Butler
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) “gagged” Merseyside Police over releasing details about Southport killer Axel Rudakubana despite him pleading guilty to murder, the Crime Reporters Association warned.
The force was set to brief journalists about “their commendable efforts to investigate Rudakubana, his background and why decisions were taken about charges,” the CRA said.
But the CPS blocked the briefing at the last minute, claiming “reporting or releasing information which hasn’t been put before the court risks pre-judging facts which may inform the sentence handed down.”
However, Rudakubana had already pleaded guilty to murdeing three young girls, meaning there was no risk of potentially prejudicial information disrupting a fair trial by jury.
A judge cannot be prejudiced by a news story. The Judicial Office says judges “must not allow potential public or media responses to skew their decision-making”.
“From day one we have been as open as we possibly could and have constantly been in touch with the CPS who have advised us on what information could be released,” Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said.
“We have wanted to say much more to show we were being open and transparent, but we have been advised throughout that we couldn’t do so as it would risk justice being delivered.”
How Southport murders sparked violent disorder across the country
04:00
,
Alexander Butler
Southport attacker should not be called 'terrorist', says former counter terrorism chief
03:00
,
Alexander Butler
The Southport attacker should not be labelled as a terrorist but as a “pathetic, vulnerable, criminal loser”, former Met Police counterterrorism chief Neil Basu said.
Mr Basu warned that naming criminals like 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana as terrorists was “giving them exactly what they are looking for.”
“You are giving them their day of fame, their day of infamy. You will, in my view, inspire more of these acts,” he told LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr.
“We have very strong terrorism laws in this country. They apply to lone actors as much as they apply to organised terrorist networks,” he added.
“The point is the ideology and, in this circumstance, counter terrorism policing and local policing in Merseyside were not able to find an ideology.”
Rudakubana admitted to the production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of a terrorist document a PDF file titled Military Studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.
How a violence-obsessed teen unleashed horror at Southport children’s dance class
02:00
,
Alexander Butler
Southport killer ‘tried to take a taxi to school that expelled him’ week before dance class atrocity
01:00
,
Alexander Butler
Watch: Southport killings ‘must be line in the sand for Britain’, says Starmer
Tuesday 21 January 2025 23:00
,
Alexander Butler
Police were called to Rudakubana’s home five times before Southport attacks, Yvette Cooper says
Tuesday 21 January 2025 22:00
,
Alexander Butler
Watch: Government has questions to answer about Southport killings aftermath, says Chris Philp
Tuesday 21 January 2025 21:00
,
Alexander Butler
Southport stabbing: Everything we know about attack as Axel Rudakubana pleads guilty
Tuesday 21 January 2025 20:00
,
Alexander Butler
Starmer denies ‘cover up’ over Southport killings
Tuesday 21 January 2025 19:00
,
Alexander Butler
Rudakubana’s neighbours leave quiet cul-de-sac in wake of attack
Tuesday 21 January 2025 18:30
,
Amy-Clare Martin
Horrified neighbours in quiet cul-de-sac of new build homes where Rudakubana lived with his family have been left reeling, with some now ready to move on.
Local councillor John Howard said some people want to move away after angry troublemakers threatened to target properties in the aftermath of the attack.
At least one home has been put on the market in the wake of the tragedy, resident Paul Jones told The Independent.
Most had never even laid eyes on the reclusive teenager, who was obsessed with violence and made the biological toxin ricin in his bedroom.
“I never knew he lived there, I never saw him,” Mr Jones, 66, added. “I only saw the father, just to say hello.”
It is not known what will happen to the family’s terraced three-bedroom home which has lain empty since the family were taken into hiding.
Officers were combing the property for up to a month in wake of the attack. Later, police arranged for the removal of their belongings, the neighbour said.
“What will happen to his house now?,” he added. “The police arranged removal of cars and all their property and belongings and everything.”
What is Prevent? Anti-terror unit which failed to stop Southport murders under increased scrutiny
Tuesday 21 January 2025 18:00
,
Alexander Butler
Southport attacker should not be called 'terrorist', says former counter terrorism chief
Tuesday 21 January 2025 17:25
,
Alexander Butler
The Southport attacker should not be labelled as a terrorist but as a “pathetic, vulnerable, criminal loser”, former Met Police counterterrorism chief Neil Basu said.
Mr Basu warned that naming criminals like 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana as terrorists was “giving them exactly what they are looking for.”
“You are giving them their day of fame, their day of infamy. You will, in my view, inspire more of these acts,” he told LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr.
“We have very strong terrorism laws in this country. They apply to lone actors as much as they apply to organised terrorist networks,” he added.
“The point is the ideology and, in this circumstance, counter terrorism policing and local policing in Merseyside were not able to find an ideology.”
Rudakubana admitted to the production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of a terrorist document a PDF file titled Military Studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.
How Southport murders sparked violent disorder across the country
Tuesday 21 January 2025 17:00
,
Alexander Butler
Merseyside Police ‘gagged’ by CPS, reporters warn
Tuesday 21 January 2025 16:41
,
Alexander Butler
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) “gagged” Merseyside Police over releasing details about Southport killer Axel Rudakubana despite him pleading guilty to murder, the Crime Reporters Association warned.
The force was set to brief journalists about “their commendable efforts to investigate Rudakubana, his background and why decisions were taken about charges,” the CRA said.
But the CPS blocked the briefing at the last minute, claiming “reporting or releasing information which hasn’t been put before the court risks pre-judging facts which may inform the sentence handed down.”
However, Rudakubana had already pleaded guilty to murdeing three young girls, meaning there was no risk of potentially prejudicial information disrupting a fair trial by jury.
A judge cannot be prejudiced by a news story. The Judicial Office says judges “must not allow potential public or media responses to skew their decision-making”.
“From day one we have been as open as we possibly could and have constantly been in touch with the CPS who have advised us on what information could be released,” Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said.
“We have wanted to say much more to show we were being open and transparent, but we have been advised throughout that we couldn’t do so as it would risk justice being delivered.”
Exclusive: Man who confronted Axel Rudakubana had no idea of ‘unspeakable’ horror ahead
Tuesday 21 January 2025 16:30
,
Alexander Butler
Britain facing new terror threat from generation of ‘young men in their bedrooms’, Starmer warns
Tuesday 21 January 2025 16:00
,
Andy Gregory
Britain is facing a new terror threat from a generation of young men in their bedrooms accessing radical materials online, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.
The prime minister laid the groundwork for an overhaul of terrorism laws to capture the new threat of “loners and misfits” driven to acts of extreme violence by “all manner of material online”.
Responding to Axel Rudakubana pleading guilty for the murder of three children in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, Sir Keir said “terrorism has changed”.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Rudakubana’s family ‘devastated’ and living in secret location
Tuesday 21 January 2025 15:52
,
Alexander Butler
The family of Axel Rudakubana are “devastated” following his knife attack on a Southport holiday club, the church attended by his father has said.
In a statement, leaders of The Community Church in Southport, attended by Rudakubana’s father Alphonse, said the family had been moved to a secret location for their protection.
“The Rudakubana family have been devastated following this terrible incident and they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home in Banks to a secret location that we are unaware of,” they said.
Lib Dems says counter-terror strategy must respond to ‘complex online world'
Tuesday 21 January 2025 15:30
,
Andy Gregory
Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart called for a counter-terrorism strategy which responds to “an increasingly complex online world”.
She told the Commons: “We all owe it to these girls to ensure that a senseless tragedy like this can never happen again. It’s been deeply concerning to hear reports about how in the lead-up to the attack, warning signs were missed as the attacker fell through the cracks of the system.”
Ms Smart added: “The inquiry must not shy away from getting those answers. Of course, this inquiry like others will only reach its full potential when there is a duty of candour that requires public officials and authorities to co-operate fully, and so I’d welcome more details from the Home Secretary on when her Government plans to finally introduce the Hillsborough law to Parliament.
“Our country also deserves a counter-terrorism strategy that keeps our communities safe and is fit to tackle the modern challenges we face in an increasingly complex online world, crossing international boundaries.”
Ms Cooper replied: “The duty of candour is something that we want to introduce as part of the Hillsborough law.
“She is also right to talk about the challenges in terms of countering terrorism, countering extremism and also these changing patterns we’ve seen of extreme violence, the kind of thing that the Met Commissioner has described where those with a fixation on violence and gore are also consuming different bits of terrorist material and extremist material as well.
“The ideology may be unclear but they pose a danger to the public.”
Rudakubana bought a knife from Amazon aged 17
Tuesday 21 January 2025 15:27
,
Alexander Butler
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana bought a knife from Amazon aged 17 despite being convicted of violent offences, the home secretary has revealed.
Rudakubana pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three young girls after a frenzied knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, last year.
Yvette Cooper said the 18-year-old admitted to having carried a knife over 10 times and was able to to order a knife from the e-commerce giant despite having been convicted for violent offences.
“Despite the fact he’d been convicted for violence and was just 17, he was easily able to order a knife on Amazon. That’s a total disgrace, and it must change,” Ms Cooper said.
Home secretary warns police must ‘have right powers'
Tuesday 21 January 2025 15:00
,
Andy Gregory
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has said where police are not “able to prove ideology”, they should still “have the right powers” to respond.
Discussing the suitability of the current definition of terrorism, in light of the Southport attack in which an ideological motive remains unclear, Ms Cooper said: “The point the prime minister made this morning was that this was clearly a case where someone attempted to terrorise the community.
“That was clearly his intention, to kill those children and also to terrorise more widely.
“That is why we have to ensure that even where there are cases where the police or the prosecution say they have not been able to prove ideology, that we still have the right powers, the right sentencing, the right ability to respond with swiftness and seriousness to the kinds of cases we face.”
Starmer vows to ‘root out’ barriers to public safety
Tuesday 21 January 2025 14:30
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to approach the response to Southport in the same way he did as chief prosecutor handling rape gang cases in Rochdale.
In his address earlier, the PM said: “I was the prosecutor who first spotted failures in grooming cases in my institution, the CPS, 14 years ago. And I was the prosecutor who first did something about it by bringing the rape gangs in Rochdale to justice.
“And so my approach as prime minister will be no different. If any shortcomings are now holding back the ability of this country to keep its citizens and its children safe, I will find them and I will root them out.
“Because when it comes to justice, the failure to be transparent is not only disgraceful on its own terms, it is also the enemy of strong communities. It spreads suspicion more widely and allows division to win.”
Southport attack ‘part of a much wider pattern’
Tuesday 21 January 2025 14:00
,
Andy Gregory
Journalist Lizzie Dearden, author of Plotters: The UK Terrorists Who Failed, has expressed surprise at Sir Keir Starmer’s suggestion that the UK’s official definition of terrorism could be reviewed after the Southport attack.
Ms Dearden told BBC Radio Wales: “It’s pretty incredible, because ... he strongly suggested that the government would be looking at the legal definition of terrorism in this country, which is where a lot of issues in this case and other cases have stemmed from.
“That conversation about what terrorism means is a conversation that I didn’t see the current government – or any government, really – having the appetite to start. Because we can all see how controversial it is, and it’s a definition that has been in place ... [for] a quarter of a century now.
“But clearly this incident – which I should say is actually part of a much wider pattern, and is not out of the blue or really a suprise to the security services in any way – has clearly been enough to tip that discussion over.
“And it’s gone from disquiet and mutterings among sections of the police and security infrastructure to going straight into the government and it’s something they’re now actually looking at.”
Noting that officials at Prevent would likely argue that they are constrained by the way that the scheme is built around the UK’s current legal definition of terrorism as being motivated by the purpose of advancing an ideological cause, Ms Dearden also pointed to the mass shooting in Plymouth in 2021.
“That was the deadliest shooting this country had seen since the Dunblane massacre. It wasn’t declared a terrorist attack for the same reason [as Southport],” said Ms Dearden, formerly The Independent’s home affairs editor.
Home secretary warns of threefold rise in teenagers probed over terrorism
Tuesday 21 January 2025 13:45
,
Andy Gregory
Home secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons that the Southport inquiry would also consider the wider challenge of rising youth violence and extremism, warning that she had been “deeply disturbed” at the number of teenagers drawn into extremism and serious violence.
There has been a threefold increase in the number of under-18s investigated over involvement in terrorism in just three years, Ms Cooper said – with 162 people referred to Prevent last year over concerns relating to school massacres.
Ms Cooper said: “So many of our teenagers are being exposed to ever more disturbing materials online – an online ecosystem that is radicalising our children while safety measures are whittled away.”
While prosecutors will set out more details in