Tory management candidate Robert Jenrick says he’s ‘critically involved details might have been withheld from the general public’ as Southport ‘killer’ is charged with terror offence
The police have ‘serious questions to answer’ after the teenager accused of fatally stabbing three girls in Southport was charged with a terror offence, MPs have said.
Three months after the attack, the chief constable of Merseyside Police said 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been charged with production of a biological toxin, Ricin.
The police have ‘serious questions to answer’ after the teenager accused of fatally stabbing three girls in Southport was charged with a terror offence, MPs have said.
He is also charged with possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Rudakubana is already charged with the murders of three girls who were fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Hart Street, Southport, on July 29.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy today insisted it was ‘certainly not the case’ that police were deciding to keep information from the public.
Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said he was ‘seriously concerned that facts may have been withheld from the public here’
Three months after the attack, the chief constable of Merseyside Police said 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been charged with production of a biological toxin, Ricin
But Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said he was ‘seriously concerned that facts may have been withheld from the public here’.
‘The Government and authorities told us for months they were not treating this as a terrorist incident,’ the former immigration minister said.
‘This atrocity was of immense public concern. The public had a right to know the truth straight away.
‘Any suggestion of a cover-up will permanently damage public trust in whether we’re being told the truth about crime in our country.
‘Keir Starmer must urgently explain to the country what he knew about the Southport attack and when he learned it.’
‘Across the board the hard reality of mass migration is being covered up. We need the truth – and we need to change.’
Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved to the Southport area in 2013. He was living in Banks, Lancashire, at the time of the attack.
Rudakubana seen in a court sketch
Mr Jenrick’s rival, Kemi Badenoch, said there are ‘serious questions to be asked’ of the authorities
His rival, Kemi Badenoch, said there are ‘serious questions to be asked’ of the authorities.
She tweeted: ‘After the Southport murders and the ensuing protests and riots, some people asked me why I wasn’t commenting. This is why. Too many on all sides rush to conclusions before all the facts are clear.
‘As more information emerges, it is quite clear that there are serious questions to be asked of the police, the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] and also of Keir Starmer’s response to the whole situation. Parliament is the right place for this to happen.
‘While we must abide by the rules of contempt of court and not prejudice this case it is important that there is appropriate scrutiny.’
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, posted a video on X in which he said: ‘In the wake of the horrific murder of those three girls in Southport in July of this year, I asked some questions saying “please tell us the truth – stop the online speculation”.
‘Well it has taken a long time to find out more about the individual. He has now been charged, believe it or not, under the Biological Weapons Act because the police have found Ricin in his home.
‘He has been charged under the Terrorism Act, alleged to have downloaded Al-Qaeda terrorist materials.
‘But the murder of the girls, and the serious injury of the others, that is still being treated as a non-terror incident because they don’t know what the motives were.
‘We’ve also been told this afternoon there are other facts that we don’t yet know because the Crown Prosecution Service say they will come out in good time in court and are not to be discussed now.
The teenager is accused of murdering three young girls – Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, six
‘So that’s alright then? That all makes sense to you, doesn’t it? Yes, absolutely.’
Speaking at the press conference, chief constable Serena Kennedy, said: ‘I would strongly advise everyone to avoid speculation about the motivation in this case.
The criminal proceedings against Axel Rudakubana are live and he has a right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there is no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that could prejudice these procedures.’
Downing Street said the Prime Minister’s thoughts remain with the families of the Southport attack victims.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: ‘The Government is focused on ensuring the families and all those affected receive justice, and first and foremost the Prime Minister’s thoughts are with those families and the local community. His thoughts remain firmly with them.’
Charging decisions are for the Crown Prosecution Service, she said, adding that the trial would ‘establish the facts of the case’.
Downing Street denied the Government had been involved in decision-making about the timing of an announcement about charges against the Southport attack suspect.
Asked if there was any Government involvement in decisions on the timing, a No 10 spokeswoman said: ‘No, charging decisions and when those are made are for the CPS.’
She also said it was ‘not correct’ to say the Government had been involved in withholding facts from the public.
The spokeswoman added: ‘Charging decisions are independently made by the CPS and I would point you to the CPS’ statement and statements from the police.’
