Police didn’t think Southport killer Axel Rudakubana would be radicalised – leaked report

Axel Rudakubana's mugshot / The killer caught on CCTV

Axel Rudakubana’s mugshot / The killer caught on CCTV (Image: PA)

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was not “in danger of being radicalised” in the eyes of police, a leaked Home Office report reveals.

Serious failings are due to be disclosed about how the north-west counter-terror officers handled the would-be murderer, according to The Sunday Times.

On Thursday, 18-year-old Rudakubana was given a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murder of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

He also attempted to kill eight others and the two adults running the Taylor Swift dance class he stormed into on July 29 last year.

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Yvette Cooper has already announced a public inquiry into the Southport murders (Image: Getty)

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already demanded an inquiry to assess where there were any “missed opportunities” to apprehend Rudakubana.

The child killer was found to own an Al Qaeda terror manual, which Daily Express revealed was purchasable on eBay, as well as the deadly poison ricin.

Rudakubana, who once appeared as an innocent looking child in an episode of Dr Who, was referred to Prevent on three separate occasions and police were called about his behaviour six times.

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Senior national co-ordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans

Senior national co-ordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans (Image: PA)

The Home Secretary said in the Sunday Times that a review of the Prevent referral thresholds will take place.

The assessment will have a particular focus on individuals “obsessed with school massacres” as well as “Islamist extremism”, she said.

She added: “Where individuals are suspected to be neurodiverse, interventions should not stop because they are awaiting assessments, ignoring any risks they might pose.”

Head of Prevent Vicki Evans told the Sunday Times: “We need to consider whether the counterterrorism system needs to change.”

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