London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025

Teenager Referred to Counter-Extremism Scheme Three Times Before Southport Attack

Teenager Referred to Counter-Extremism Scheme Three Times Before Southport Attack

Axel Rudakubana's referral history highlights potential gaps in UK Prevent strategy
Axel Rudakubana, the teenager responsible for the murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, was referred to Prevent, the UK government's counter-extremism programme, on three separate occasions, according to information obtained by The Guardian.

The referrals, beginning when Rudakubana was 13, were sparked by concerns regarding his interest in violent incidents, including school massacres.

Prevent is the UK's national programme aimed at identifying individuals at risk of radicalization and diverting them from committing acts of violence.

Individuals referred to Prevent undergo assessment to determine the threat level they pose and to establish whether intervention is necessary.

Rudakubana's first referral to Prevent occurred in 2019, followed by two additional referrals in 2021 while he was still a schoolchild in Lancashire.

Despite assessments indicating his interest in violent themes, such as school massacres and attacks in Libya, Rudakubana was adjudged not to pose a terrorism threat, as he did not appear to be driven by extremist ideologies.

In July, Rudakubana attacked a dance class, resulting in the deaths of three girls aged nine, seven, and six, and injuring eight other children and two adults.

Following the incident, he pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, a terrorism offence involving the possession of an al-Qaida training manual, and production of the biological toxin ricin.

Police investigations did not find evidence of a terrorist ideology motivating Rudakubana's actions at the dance class, which was held during a Taylor Swift-themed event.

In response to the attack and learning of his history with Prevent, an emergency review into how his case was handled was conducted.

The review found that Prevent's processes were followed correctly according to the guidelines at that time.

Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and grew up in Banks, Lancashire.

His early Prevent referral was triggered by his engagement with material on US school massacres while using school computers.

Following the Southport attack, the UK Home Secretary announced impending changes to the Prevent programme aiming to address any shortcomings.

These include potentially adapting the criteria to include individuals who display an interest in violence, even absent a clear ideological stance.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, emphasized the need for clarity on whether Prevent should engage with cases lacking a defined ideology but exhibiting concerning behavior.

Rudakubana's history also includes bringing a knife to school and assaulting a peer, showing a progression of problematic behavior flagged by the Lancashire Child Safeguarding Partnership.

The partnership noted Rudakubana's ongoing challenges with emotional and behavioral issues, leading to support from various services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.

A review examining the interactions between Rudakubana and different agencies from 2019 is underway, led by the Lancashire Child Safeguarding Partnership.

Counter-terrorism policing maintains that information regarding Rudakubana's Prevent referrals was withheld during the legal process not to risk the integrity of the judicial proceedings.

Following his guilty plea, the details surrounding his case and interactions with Prevent are expected to be shared more openly.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Alberta's Push for Independence Raises Questions About Canada's National Unity
Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser, dies by suicide
"China has survived for five thousand years, most of it without the United States as a market, and it can easily continue to survive without the U.S. market for another five thousand years — no problem," said a China analyst.
Elites vs. America: How Democrats Lost the Plot and the People
Pam Bondi Details Wisconsin Judge’s Actions Before Arrest: 'Can't Make This Up'
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Peter Navarro: The Man Behind Trump’s Tariff Madness
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
×