Amazon launches 'urgent investigation' after Axel Rudakubana bought 8-inch knife online
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Amazon has launched an 'urgent' investigation into the sale of knives to Axel Rudakubana, after he was caught with a blade which he bought from the online sales giant before he stabbed to death three schoolgirls. It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was a "total disgrace" Rudakubana was "easily able to order a knife on Amazon", with "stronger measures" needed to tackle knife sales online.
A Cerbera knife, 20cm in length, was among the items found by police in Rudakubana's house in Banks, Lancashire. Rudakubana purchased the knife from Amazon using encrypted software to hide his address on July 20, days before his attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance club in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “We take our responsibility around the sale of all age-restricted items - including bladed products - extremely seriously and have launched an urgent investigation in relation to this tragic case. We use trusted ID verification services to check name, date of birth and address details whenever an order is placed for these bladed items.
“We have an Age Verification on Delivery process that requires drivers to verify the recipient's age through an app on their devices before handing over a parcel containing an age-restricted item. “Our Conditions of Use and Sale make clear that anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to set up an Amazon account or make purchases. The product in question was subject to age verification checks on delivery,” they told the LiverpoolEcho.
