'BLUNT TRUTH'
Southport murders MUST be line in the sand for Britain, Keir Starmer says as he confronts ‘gigantic cover-up’ claims
The PM said he could change the definition of terrorism
THE Southport murders must mark a "line in the sand" for Britain, Sir Keir Starmer vowed today.
The PM blasted state failings that "leap off the page" as he pledged to leave "no stone unturned" in investigating how Axel Rudakubana was left free to murder three young girls.
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At a press conference in Downing Street, Sir Keir hit back at accusations of a "cover up", insisting it was not his "personal decision" to withhold information from the public about the 18-year-old terrorist's identity.
And he promised that "nothing will be off the table" as he announced a public inquiry into how Whitehall failed to protect innocent children.
Sir Keir also warned that Britain faces a new "threat of terrorism", one stemming from loners and misfits inspired by online videos and social media, rather than just organised extremist groups.
He declared that ministers are ready to "change the law" if necessary to recognise the "new and dangerous threat" and ensure it falls under the purview of terror.
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The PM said: "We must make sure the names of those three young girls, are not associated with the vile perpetrator but instead, with a fundamental change in how Britain protects its citizens, and its children.
"In pursuit of that, we must, of course, ask and answer difficult questions - questions that should be far reaching unburdened by cultural or institutional sensitivities and driven only by the pursuit of justice.
"I will not let any institution of the state deflect from their failure - failure which, in this case, frankly, leaps off the page."
Nigel Farage this morning gave the PM's response short shrift, branding him "'Cover Up Keir".
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Rudakubana pleaded guilty to 16 charges as...
- The victims' families were not in court to see his plea
- He showed violent behaviour while in high school
- He was reported to anti-terror programme three times
- Footage shows him pacing before getting taxi to dance class
- Prosecutor described attack as "unspeakable" after pleas
The Reform UK chief said: "The Prime Minister is once again hiding behind the contempt of court argument.
“This is simply untrue, the country needed to know the truth about this murderer and that he was known to the authorities.
“Even MPs were banned from asking questions about this man's background. Cover up Keir convinces no one.”
The Sun's political editor Harry Cole grills Keir Starmer on Southport attack cover-up
Today the PM admitted he was being "updated" by forces on Rudakubana - but had to withhold information from the public in order to not prejudice a future trial.
Sir Keir said: "I did not disclose anything that would collapse the trial and defeat justice.
"I was kept up to date with the facts that were emerging. That is usual practice. But I had to observe the law of the land.
"It was not my personal decision to withhold this information, any more than it was a journalist's personal decision not to print or write about it.
"I don't think anybody could ever have looked the victims and their families in the eye if they had."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper later set out the details of the inquiry as she delivered a statement in the House of Commons.
She told MPs Rudakubana had previously been referred to the Prevent programme three times, with numerous different agencies having had some contact with him.
She revealed the three referrals looked at concerns including that he was “expressing interest in school shootings”.
Ms Cooper said: “The three referrals took place between three and four years before the Southport attack, including following evidence that he was expressing interest in school shootings, in the London Bridge attack, the IRA, MI5 and the Middle East.
“On each occasion Rudakubana’s case was assessed by counter terrorism policing but in each case there was no onward referral to specialist channel support.
“The learning review has concluded the referrals should not have been closed and that cases such as these given his age and complex needs should be referred to channel.”
The Home Secretary also said Rudakubana admitted to having carried a knife more than 10 times, telling MPs: “Yet the action against him was far too weak. And despite the fact he’d been convicted for violence and was just 17, he was easily able to order a knife on Amazon.
“That’s a total disgrace and it must change. So, we will bring in stronger measures to tackle knife sales online in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.”
ANALYSIS
By Jack Elsom, Chief Political Correspondent
THE British people are mortified that - time and again - the perpetrators of horrific atrocities in this country have long been known to the authorities.
Sir Keir Starmer is acutely aware of this tidal wave of public rage, and today told the nation he felt the same way.
He did not try to defend the indefensible, instead saying that he too was “angry” at how the state had repeatedly failed to stop the Southport beast.
The father-of-two - who visited Southport in the aftermath of the killings - was visibly moved as he spoke of the families' "unimaginable grief".
But the PM is also not blind to another growing feeling - that many are blaming him for withholding crucial information about the murderer.
To put it bluntly, that he conspired in a cover up.
The lawyer that he is, he came to today’s early morning press conference armed with several arguments to blunt the claims being made by Nigel Farage and supporters.
“If this trial had collapsed because I or anyone else had revealed crucial details while police were investigating, while the case was being built, while we were awaiting a verdict, then the vile individual who committed these crimes would have walked away a free man.”
It is a fair point that many details relating to a criminal case cannot be made public before a trial, and a rule that journalists observe.
But the crux of the complaint against Starmer is that - after being told the murders were not terror-related - the public learned Axel Rudakubana possessed an Al Qaeda trailing manual and produced the toxin ricin.
The police later released this information BEFORE the trial was due but long AFTER the tragedy unfolded.
Trying to contain public bewilderment, Starmer did this time attempt to deflect, telling the Sun: “It was not a personal decision to withhold information.”
And he has now launched a statutory public inquiry to get answers, “leaving no stone unturned”.
One thing is for sure - that investigation will see more than just the PM facing questions over this horror.
Responding to the press conference, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: "The Prime Minister’s announcement of an inquiry into the Southport murders is welcome.
"But contrast his press conference in No10 this morning with the govt silence in the days following the horrific attacks.
"There remain serious questions about the transparency of government information at the time of the unrest that followed these horrific killings."
As his trial was due to begin on Monday (January 20), Radakubana pleaded guilty to all charges: three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and two terror-related charges.
One of these counts was in relation to the production of a biological toxin, ricin.
The terrorism offence relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual.
A sentencing date has been set for January 23, and Justice Goose said that a life order was inevitable.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Rudakubana had been referred to the Prevent scheme on three occasions due to his interest in violence.
Between October 2019 and May 2022, Lancashire Police responded to five calls at his home about his erratic behaviour and he was found to be carrying a knife on ten occassions.
Following the calls he had contact with children's social care, the early help service, child and adolescent mental health services.
Prevent was given evidence that Rudakubana was interested in school shootings, the London Bridge attack, the IRA, MI5 and the Middle East.
However, while his behaviour was considered a concern, he was not accepted onto the programme due to a lack of evidence of terrorist ideology.
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Following his arrest, an emergency review concluded Prevent had followed correct procedure.
Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and has an older brother.
He moved to Banks, a village in Lancashire located a few miles from Southport, in 2013.
As a child, Rudakubana displayed vicious behaviour in school as his obsession with violence grew.
The teen, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, left Range High School in Formby in around 2019 over claims he brought a blade into class and made threats to attack another pupil.
Police were called in and the Year 9 student - then aged just 13 - was sent home and later expelled.
But he returned to his former school armed with a hockey stick and a "hit list" of students he wanted to attack.
Chillingly, just one week before the attack, Rudakubana is feared to have plotted a similar attack on his old school.
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He booked a taxi - the same way he travelled to the Taylor Swift-themed dance class - under a fake name from his home to take him to the Range High School.
It is believed he'd been planning to target pupils on the last day of term as they broke up for the summer holidays.
But he was stopped from making his journey when his father ran out and intervened.
There is no suggestion his dad knew what he was planning.
Rudakubana was then sent to a specialist school but teachers became concerned over his behaviour.
His first referral to Prevent in 2019 came after he used computers at his own school to search for material on a school massacre.
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Two years later, he was referred again after viewing material on previous terror attacks - including those in London in 2017.
Although there were no concerns over a particular ideology or religious hatred, his obsession with violence had caused fears.
What did Rudakubana admit and what happens now?
THE teen was due to stand trial today where details about the attack would have been heard for the first time in court.
As he pleaded guilty, that information will now be revealed on Thursday instead at his sentencing hearing.
As with most court cases, if a defendant admits the charges, the sentencing does not usually take place on the same day.
This allows prosecutors and defence lawyers to submit relevant reports that will be taken into consideration by the judge.
Once the hearing is underway, the prosecution will open the case - meaning all the information not previously heard will be read out.
Mr Justice Goose warned Rudakubana it is "inevitable" he will receive a life sentence.
These are the 16 counts Rudakubana pleaded guilty to:
- Three counts of murder
- Eight counts of attempted murder in relation to eight other children
- Two counts of attempted murder against Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes
- One count of possession of a bladed article in a public place, namely a kitchen knife with a curved blade
- One count of production of a biological toxin, namely ricin
- One of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely a PDF file entitled "Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual".