Following Axel Rudakubana’s guilty plea to killing three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last year, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a public inquiry into the event. Rudakubana had been referred to the Prevent programme three times between December 2019 and May 2021, as well as having contact with the police, courts and social services. Cooper highlighted that, although agencies failed to identify the danger, the public must now receive answers about the attack.
Cooper also noted an issue with teenagers being referred to Prevent, or other agencies, due to concerns about serious violence or extremism. She stated that this backdrop needs to be confronted, and figures will be published later this week in relation to a Prevent Learning Review into Rudakubana’s referrals. The Home Office will also disclose new Prevent programme reforms.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented on the Southport attacks, agreeing that there are grave questions to answer. Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that he would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of answering what happened. Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party representative, called for a complete account of who in government knew what, and when.
Before Rudakubana’s attack, he had been referred to the Prevent programme due to general concerns about violence obsession; he also told Childline he planned to carry a knife to school. Rudakubana cannot receive a whole-life sentence due to his age, but is due to be sentenced on Thursday. Ursula Doyle, the CPS prosecutor, commented that Rudakubana hadn’t displayed signs of remorse and was a young man with a continuing interest in violence
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