MI5 continued to investigate a vulnerable teenage girl named Rhianan Rudd until her death, even after terrorism charges against her were dropped, an inquest revealed. Rhianan, from Bolsover in Derbyshire, was charged with terror offenses before the case was discontinued, and she tragically took her own life at the age of 16 on May 19, 2022.
During a hearing at the Chesterfield Coroner’s Court in London, known as Witness A, an MI5 officer involved in Rhianan’s case, spoke about the ongoing risks that MI5 continues to investigate. The officer stated that it is their duty to assess threats to national security, highlighting the importance of considering safeguarding concerns during these investigations.
Rhianan, who was autistic and had a history of self-harm, was found dead in a children’s home. The inquest previously revealed that Rhianan had been groomed by a far-right extremist from the US and had expressed intentions to cause harm before her death. Witness A emphasized that MI5’s primary responsibility is to evaluate threats to national security, with safeguarding concerns being a crucial aspect of their investigations.
Email correspondence between MI5 and CTPEM officers referred to Rhianan’s case as “fascist radicalisation of a minor,” indicating the uncomfortable nature of investigating such cases involving children. Despite the discomfort, Witness A highlighted the necessity of investigating these matters as an added challenge to their job. The court also heard that MI5 reached out to the FBI in the US due to Rhianan’s connections with an individual named Chris Cook, who had sent her extreme far-right material to read
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