The missed chances to stop Southport killer Axel Rudakubana
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Rudakubana was referred to the anti-extremism scheme Prevent three times before the murders, amid concerns over his fixation with violence. A public inquiry will be held into the murders of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport by 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana “that can get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change”.
![[Rudakubana admitted 16 offences including the murders of Bebe King, left to right, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/18/af369c1d30fe47b61064ba7dae7469d0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3NDgxNTA2-2.78745096.jpg)
The announcement came after it emerged Rudakubana was referred to an anti-extremism programme three times before he carried out the murders, and endangered his former teachers and peers. Home secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the 18-year-old had “contact with a range of different state agencies throughout his teenage years” before carrying out his “meticulously planned rampage”.
![[An artist’s impression of Axel Rudakubana in court flanked by guards]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/16/9bfb1f46f3fd2e7705b6556d6941975dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3NDc2ODU1-2.78748140.jpg)
Ms Cooper said in a statement: “He was referred three times to the Prevent programme between December 2019 and April 2021 aged 13 and 14. “He also had contact with the police, the courts, the Youth Justice system, social services and mental health services.
![[Rudakubana appeared as Doctor Who in a BBC Children In Need advert in 2018]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/03/09/03093256-7da2d241-873d-4b66-98d5-493c1c75ba61.jpg)
“Yet between them, those agencies failed to identify the terrible risk and danger to others that he posed.”. Announcing the inquiry, Ms Cooper continued: “Although, in line with CPS advice to preserve the integrity of the prosecution, we were constrained in what we were able to say at the time, the Home Office commissioned an urgent Prevent Learning Review during the summer into the three referrals that took place and why they were closed.
