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‘We purchased Southport killer’s knife from Amazon – supply man simply left it on the step’

EXCLUSIVE: Southport killer Axel Rudakubana got hold of knife using online shopping giant Amazon before murdering three children and now the Daily Star how simple it is to order one and if checks were made on who received them

The Daily Star was left horrified by how easy it was to get the knife
The Daily Star was left horrified by how easy it was to get the knife (Image: Harry Thompson)

Amazon has been slammed for shipping a knife like the one ordered by killer Axel Rudakubana without ID checks on delivery – just days after he was caged.

The razor-sharp knife was was delivered and left outside on the step – sparking fears the blades could be bought by under 18s.

Anti-knife campaigners have described the absence of checks “terrifying” coming just six months after the horrific attacks in Southport for which twisted Rudakubana was caged for 52 years last week. And could lead to “misery” for families if the blades fall into the “wrong hands”.

Rudakubana, now 18, claimed the lives of Elsie Dot Stancombe aged seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, when he stormed into a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport with weapons he had acquired over the internet. He has now been sentenced to 52-years in prison, however fears remain over the ease in which the killer, then a child himself, was able to get his hands on the tools to end the lives of the little girls and injure 10 others.

The knife was among these boxes left inside the front door
The knife was among these boxes left inside the front door (Image: Harry Thompson)

The Daily Star found the delivery of a kitchen knife identical to one ordered by the then 17-year old. It was delivered to the agreed address and left with no physical identification.

We ordered the 20cm Apollo Cerbera Stainless Steel Chef Knife from Amazon for £1.70, coming to £6.69 after postage on January 22, and it arrived three days later on January 25. Amazon told us it takes the sale of age restricted items including bladed items “extremely seriously,” however the product was delivered to the door without any kind of check made on arrival – in fact, the delivery driver did not see the person who had ordered the knife, or anyone they lived with.

All such deliveries are fulfilled by Amazon and not third party sellers for compliance reasons, and on the box were notes that said “Bladed Article” and “AGE 18+”. However, the knife was left in the public area where parcels are frequently left, just inside the door.

The delivery information on the Amazon App said it was delivered to the 'Mailroom'
The delivery information on the Amazon App said it was delivered to the ‘Mailroom’ (Image: Harry Thompson)

On the Amazon app, looking at the account which had been used to order the blade, it says “Parcel was left in mail room. Received by or left at: Mailroom.”

Despite this, Amazon claimed “We have an Age Verification on Delivery process that requires drivers to verify the recipient’s age through an app on their devices before handing over a parcel containing an age-restricted item.”

Meanwhile, on Amazon’s customer service information page, it says: “To confirm the recipient is over 18 years, valid photographic ID with a date of birth may be required upon delivery. The driver will input your year of birth into their device and may then require an ID check to complete the age verification process.”

The Daily Star was not asked for ID in order for the delivery to be made
The Daily Star was not asked for ID in order for the delivery to be made (Image: Harry Thompson)

Reports have claimed that days before, on July 20, the killer ordered the same Cerbera knife using encrypted software to hide his address. He then carried out the horrific attacks on July 29.

Amazon, however, has claimed it has a robust system to defend against such issues.

“We take our responsibility around the sale of all age-restricted items – including bladed products – extremely seriously and have launched an urgent investigation in relation to this tragic case.

Rudakubana claimed the lives of nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar (L), seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and six-year-old Bebe King
Rudakubana claimed the lives of nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar (L), seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and six-year-old Bebe King(Image: MERSEYSIDE POLICE/AFP via Getty)

“We use trusted ID verification services to check name, date of birth and address details whenever an order is placed for these bladed items.

“We have an Age Verification on Delivery process that requires drivers to verify the recipient’s age through an app on their devices before handing over a parcel containing an age-restricted item.

The label was clearly marker 'Bladed Article'
The label was clearly marker ‘Bladed Article’ (Image: Harry Thompson)

“Our Conditions of Use and Sale make clear that anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to set up an Amazon account or make purchases.

“The product in question was subject to age verification checks on delivery.”

Despite these claims, the Daily Star was not ID checked for its delivery and Rudakubana managed to receive his too after a delivery from Amazon .

We orderd the exact same knife as the one a picture was issued of by Merseyside Police
We orderd the same knife that Merseyside Police issued a picture of (Image: Harry Thompson)

Patrick Green, CEO of anti-knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust told the Daily Star after it was told about the delivery: “This is terrifying. Online marketplaces have made it incredibly easy for children to buy knives, no questions asked. It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under 18, a high street retailer would be fined or could face prison for doing so. Yet social media companies behave like the law doesn’t apply to them.”

“The Southport tragedy showed us this isn’t a one-off problem. These knives invariably end up in the wrong hands and bring tragedy and misery to hundreds of families each year.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already ordered an inquiry into how Rudakubana was able to slip through the net of the state, including how he had been known to both the NHS and Prevent, the Government’s counter terrorism programme.

 Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison last week
Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison last week (Image: PA)

The government has now announced it is introducing stronger doorstep checks to try and prevent such purchases going forward. The new system will require buyers to submit an image upon ordering and again on delivery.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already said that it is a “total disgrace” Rudakubana was “easily able to order a knife on Amazon”.

Ms Cooper said: “It’s a total disgrace how easy it still is for children to get dangerous weapons online. More than two years after Ronan Kanda was killed with a ninja sword bought by a teenager online, too many retailers still don’t have proper checks in place.

The box was marked 'AGE 18+'
The box was marked ‘AGE 18+’(Image: Harry Thompson)

“It’s too easy to put in false birth dates, parcels are too often being dropped off at a doorstop with no questions asked.

“We cannot go on like this. We need much stronger checks – before you buy, before it’s delivered.

“The measures I am setting out today will be crucial in addressing this problem and are part of our Plan for Change and mission to make streets safer.”

Handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of a knife identical to the one used in the attack carried out by Axel Rudakubana
Handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of a knife identical to the one used in the attack carried out by Axel Rudakubana(Image: PA)

Rudakubana had previously been convicted of a violent assault on a child in his school in the past, to which Ms Cooper said: “And despite the fact that he had been convicted for violence and was just 17, he was easily able to order a knife on Amazon. That is a total disgrace. And it must change.

“We will bring in stronger measures to tackle knife sales online in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.”

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The Daily Star has learned how Amazon delivery drivers are often be under time pressure when out making their deliveries due to the amount of drops they need to make. One for anonymous former driver told the Star: “Worst job I’ve had in my life and I’ve had a lot of jobs.

“I couldn’t start work until about 11am most days because you get allocated a slot from the pickup centre, and I’d normally have about 250 deliveries per day. That means if I do a delivery every two minutes, my day would be about 8.5 hours long. However, if I did a delivery every three minutes suddenly my day takes 12.5 hours.”