Inquest Reveals Influences Behind Teenage Girl's Suicide After Terror Charges
Rhianan Rudd, the youngest person charged with terror offenses in the UK, was reportedly groomed by a neo-Nazi online.
An inquest into the death of 16-year-old Rhianan Rudd has revealed that she was allegedly groomed online by an American neo-Nazi prior to her suicide.
Rudd, who was diagnosed with autism, became the youngest person in the UK to be charged with terrorism offenses when she was arrested at the age of 15. Evidence presented at the inquest indicates that her mother, Emily Carter, referred her to the UK government’s Prevent counter-radicalisation program after noticing changes in her behavior, which included a growing fascination with Adolf Hitler and expressions of far-right ideology.
During the proceedings at Chesterfield coroner's court, it was disclosed that Rudd had created a shrine to Hitler in her bedroom and held views consistent with Holocaust denial.
She reportedly downloaded bomb-making instructions and sent messages which expressed a desire to commit acts of violence, including a potential attack at her school and a Jewish place of worship.
Following her arrest in October 2020, the prosecution against her was dropped in December 2021 due to emerging evidence of grooming and sexual exploitation.
At the time of her death on May 19, 2022, she was a looked-after child living in a residential home in Nottinghamshire.
In a detailed account, the court learned that police initially opted not to arrest Rudd when it was believed that doing so could exacerbate her mental health issues, which were already of significant concern.
Officers had previously visited her home in Bolsover, Derbyshire, where she voluntarily surrendered items, including a diary and a USB drive.
Shortly thereafter, she required medical treatment for self-harm involving an act of carving a swastika into her forehead.
Police ultimately decided to arrest her later that same month, after sharing information about her with MI5, leading to a broader investigation into her activities.
The inquest heard that Rudd had been in contact with known far-right extremists, including Christopher Cook, an American white supremacist who later faced legal consequences for his part in a terrorist plot.
It was indicated that Rudd's struggles with her emotions contributed to her self-harming behavior.
Her mother provided a poignant examination of her daughter's character at the start of the inquest, describing her as kind-hearted and talented, with passions for animals and art.
Carter articulated that Rudd's online grooming had a profound impact on her personality and mental health, leading to a significant transformation that was difficult for the family to comprehend.
The inquest into Rudd's death is set to last for three weeks as the investigation continues to uncover the circumstances surrounding her case and the broader implications regarding the influence of online radicalization.
Rudd, who was diagnosed with autism, became the youngest person in the UK to be charged with terrorism offenses when she was arrested at the age of 15. Evidence presented at the inquest indicates that her mother, Emily Carter, referred her to the UK government’s Prevent counter-radicalisation program after noticing changes in her behavior, which included a growing fascination with Adolf Hitler and expressions of far-right ideology.
During the proceedings at Chesterfield coroner's court, it was disclosed that Rudd had created a shrine to Hitler in her bedroom and held views consistent with Holocaust denial.
She reportedly downloaded bomb-making instructions and sent messages which expressed a desire to commit acts of violence, including a potential attack at her school and a Jewish place of worship.
Following her arrest in October 2020, the prosecution against her was dropped in December 2021 due to emerging evidence of grooming and sexual exploitation.
At the time of her death on May 19, 2022, she was a looked-after child living in a residential home in Nottinghamshire.
In a detailed account, the court learned that police initially opted not to arrest Rudd when it was believed that doing so could exacerbate her mental health issues, which were already of significant concern.
Officers had previously visited her home in Bolsover, Derbyshire, where she voluntarily surrendered items, including a diary and a USB drive.
Shortly thereafter, she required medical treatment for self-harm involving an act of carving a swastika into her forehead.
Police ultimately decided to arrest her later that same month, after sharing information about her with MI5, leading to a broader investigation into her activities.
The inquest heard that Rudd had been in contact with known far-right extremists, including Christopher Cook, an American white supremacist who later faced legal consequences for his part in a terrorist plot.
It was indicated that Rudd's struggles with her emotions contributed to her self-harming behavior.
Her mother provided a poignant examination of her daughter's character at the start of the inquest, describing her as kind-hearted and talented, with passions for animals and art.
Carter articulated that Rudd's online grooming had a profound impact on her personality and mental health, leading to a significant transformation that was difficult for the family to comprehend.
The inquest into Rudd's death is set to last for three weeks as the investigation continues to uncover the circumstances surrounding her case and the broader implications regarding the influence of online radicalization.
