Fury as more than 1,600 terror-obsessed youths like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana left free to roam Britain
Fury as more than 1,600 terror-obsessed youths like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana left free to roam Britain
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MORE than 1,600 terror-obsessed youths like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana have been left free to roam Britain — despite fears of attacks. Figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday show just 228 of the 1,830 referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-terror programme in the last four years were sent for full monitoring.
![[Mugshot of Axel Rudakubana.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/undated-handout-photo-issued-merseyside-965245126_421ed4.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
The others remained free from any official supervision. Rudakubana, 18, was referred to Prevent three times by teachers before killing Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar at a dance class in July. On Thursday he was jailed for a minimum of 52 years.
![[Girl in white dress standing next to illuminated cross-shaped sign and balloon garland.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/handout-photo-alice-da-silva-965228142_479a6a.jpg?strip=all&w=723)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told The Sun on Sunday: “I am clear that urgent reforms are needed to Prevent. “The programme’s work is vital to stopping extremists and preventing terrorism. “But it missed three chances to intervene in the case of the Southport killer and swift changes are needed.”.
![[Handout photo of Elsie Dot Stancombe, a murder victim.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/handout-photo-elsie-dot-stancombe-965228106_318f72.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
MP Karen Bradley, chairwoman of the Home Affairs select committee, spoke out as figures revealed gaping holes in Prevent, the Government’s anti-terror programme for under 18s. Dame Bradley said: “Something is not working. “We have somebody obsessed with violence and they are not being picked up by any agency.
![[Photo of Bebe King, a young girl wearing a dark gray t-shirt with a design.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/b2643f00-744e-4b49-9a81-04bd5c7da3c2.jpg?strip=all&w=624)
“We are seeing more and more young men and boys sitting at home, searching the internet and developing a propensity for violence and for some reason they are falling through the net.”. The Tory added: “These figures are shocking.”. Home Office figures show a massive increase in the number of children flagged to the anti-terror scheme who, like Rudakubana, cannot be directly linked to any one extremist group or ideology.
![[Illustration of Southport massacre timeline, showing the killer's movements and the events leading to arrests.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/JW_21_01_SOUTHPORT_TIMELINE_MAP_e61915.png?strip=all&w=752)
