Southport killer Axel Rudakubana had knife danger training three years before murders

Southport serial killer Axel Rudakubana had a knife crime awareness course three years before he took a blade to stab 11 children, three fatally, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance club.

Lancashire County Council has confirmed Rudakubana first became known to children’s social care in 2019, five years before murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, on 29th July 2024.

But the council also confirmed Rudakubana – who used a 20cm Cerbera kitchen knife to attack 11 children and two adults at The Hart Space in Southport – was given a knife crime awareness course in 2021.

Having first been made aware of Rudakubana in 2019, after he brought a knife to school and attacked another child with a hockey stick, the council conducted a multi-agency assessment.

The campaign includes a video about a young person who turned his life around after involvement in knife crime.

The council said: “Axel Rudakubana first became known to Children’s Social Care in 2019. A multi-agency assessment was completed following the attack in school. As a result support was offered from various agencies, a Prevent referral was made at this time, with a further referral being made in 2021.

“Our Early Help Service had contact with him and his family at various times between October 2019 and September 2023.

“Youth Justice Services also became involved in 2020 as a result of a referral order following the attack in school. This involvement focused on offending behaviour and knife crime and this completed in 2021.

“A further social work assessment was undertaken in 2022 which was a carers assessment. We then became involved with him again immediately following the incident in Southport. Our Education team has worked with agencies related to Axel’s school attendance and his Education Health and Care Plan.”

Between October 2019 and May 2022 Lancashire Police had a series of interactions with the teenager and were called to his house five times.

But despite contact with other agencies such as Prevent, aimed at countering terrorism and deradicalisation, authorities failed to stop the attack.

By 2023 Rudakubana had stopped engaging with mental health workers, was struggling to attend school and had anxiety that made him unwilling to leave his house.

Offering their sympathies to the families of the victims, the council added: “The families of the three young girls who were murdered, and all the other victims of this terrible crime are uppermost in our thoughts.

“Along with everyone in the country, we were utterly shocked and horrified by what happened.

“Following the conviction of Axel Rudakubana, we welcome the announcement of an independent public inquiry and will fully cooperate with the process.

“In addition to the public inquiry, a wide ranging and independent Child Safety Practice Review (CSPR) has been commissioned by the Lancashire Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership.

“The practice review will thoroughly consider the contact agencies had with Axel Rudakubana prior to this tragic incident.

“It is important that this review is not pre-judged and it provides an opportunity to identify learning surrounding his actions.”

Rudakubana’s family are said to be “devastated” following his knife attack on a Southport holiday club, the father Alphonse’s church has said.

Leaders of The Community Church in Southport, attended by Alphonse Rudakubana, said the family had been moved to a secret location for their protection.

Church leaders Dave Gregg, Geoff Grice, Harry Pickett and Mike Rothwell, said: “Axel was born and went to school in the United Kingdom, he has autism and has struggled with mental health issues.

“Prior to the major incident in Southport, he had been living with his parents in the village of Banks near Southport.

“There has been the inevitable speculation about his family and background – with his father Alphonse being named in the national press.

“It has also been reported that his parents are both Christians and attend a local church.

“To prevent unnecessary intrusion into other churches in our town, we can confirm that over the last few years Alphonse Rudakubana has been a valued part of The Community Church family.”

The church added: “For the sake of clarity, Alphonse’s son and family never attended our Sunday gatherings, nor played any active part in church life. As a consequence we have nothing further to say other than the detail given in this statement.

“The Rudakubana family have been devastated following this terrible incident and they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home in Banks to a secret location that we are unaware of.

“As a church we continue to pray for peace and healing for all those impacted by the tragic events that took place in Southport and in our nation beyond.”

Leaders said the church community had been “saddened and shocked” by the attack.

They added: “This tragedy and the devastating murder of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar has impacted our town and nation.

“The subsequent outpouring of love and support by the local community actually reflects the true nature and spirit of our town.

“But sadly, this was eclipsed by the appalling attack – fuelled by fake racially motivated news on social media – on the local mosque, which resulted in so many awful injuries to police and damage being caused to buildings and property.”