The chair of a damning inquiry into the horrific Southport stabbing attack which left three little girls dead shared a list of recommendations after he said the tragedy was preventable
The horror Southport attack that killed three little girls could have been prevented if the murderer’s parents and authorities acted, an inquiry found while sharing recommendations.
Axel Rudakubana was able to enter a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop and carry out the mass-casualty attack that shocked the nation because of “catastrophic” failures by multiple agencies. Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, died after the stabbing at the Merseyside town on July 29, 2024.
A damning inquiry into the stabbing attack found the tragedy could have been “prevented” and chair Sir Adrian Fulford slammed the “irresponsible and harmful” actions of the killer’s parents.
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The families of the three victims have called for three changes, which they say will prevent another attack like horror that cost the lives of their girls. The called for measures to minimise risks, agencies to share key information and for authorities to act on opportunities to intervene.
The inquiry chair slammed the “frankly depressing” refusal of different authorities refusing to accept responsibility. Sir Fulford said: “This terrible event could have been and should have been prevented.”
The inquiry chair also shared 67 recommendations that cover 10 themes:
- Fundamental problems: Which agencies and groups hold which roles and responsibilities
- The attack: What could people and organisations could have been told on the day of the attack
- Weapons and poisons: Changing how weapons can be purchased, especially online or by young people
- Online harms: How harmful content is assessed on the internet
- Policing: Feedback to the local police forced involved in the investigation and case
- Prevent and Counter Terrorism Policing: Recommendations to the government programme on how it can run better
- Social Care: Suggestions for social care bodies on how they can improve
- Rudakubana’s healthcare: What the healthcare bodies involved with the killer before the attack should have done differently
- Education: Assessing the actions of the killers school
- Rudakubana’s family: What his family should have done differently and whether there should have been more support for them before the attack
Sir Fulford also recommended that ministers set up an agency dedicated to looking at complex offenders such as Rudakubana. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the inquiries findings as “truly harrowing and profoundly disturbing”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, in a statement, said: “Sir Adrian’s report is heartbreaking. It shows a systematic failure of the state to prevent a vile and sickening individual perpetrating this atrocity.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Bebe, Elsie and Alice and all the victims of the Southport attack. They have shown immense bravery in taking part in this inquiry despite facing unimaginable grief.
“This government has already taken action to prevent such an awful tragedy from happening again, and we won’t hesitate to do what is needed to protect the public. We owe victims nothing less.”
