Southport knife attack families' lawyer says social media must help prevent another tragedy
Southport knife attack families' lawyer says social media must help prevent another tragedy
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A lawyer for the families of three little girls killed in the Southport attack has called on social media providers and tech giants to do more to prevent another tragedy. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered by Axel Rudakubana, who was jailed for life with a minimum of 52 years last week.
Sara Stanger, a solicitor for their families said they were 'shocked' by the number of missed chances to stop the killer, but felt 'grateful' that a public inquiry into his crimes had been announced. Mrs Stanger said online safety will be a "key part" of the public inquiry into the stabbings.
"I think every parent has been worried by this process," she told BBC Breakfast. "They've seen that within a few clicks, this defendant was able to access horrifying materials. "Most of our children have an incredibly powerful computer in their pocket with their phone.
"I think we need the help of internet providers and social media providers to help parents with the toolkit to protect our children.". Mrs Stanger said the girls' parents want to answers on whether preventing missed opportunities would have changed the outcome.
Rudakubana was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme three times but no action was taken due to his apparent lack of a clear ideology. Police officers had been called to his home address in Banks, Lancashire on five separate occasions, with parents telling officers they were struggling to 'cope' with his violent outbursts.
