The government has announced an investigation into the Southport stabbings.
comes later Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted to murder Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in the attack in Southport, Merseyside, in July last year.
In a statement, Inside Minister Yvette Cooper said that now that he has pleaded guilty, “the families and people of Southport need answers about what happened before this attack.”
Latest in politics: Prime Minister says there are “serious questions to answer” about Southport
It has now been discovered that Rudakubana period He referred to the government plan against extremism – known as Stop – three times before the murders because of a fixation with violence.
In his statement, Cooper said that these three remissions occurred in the 17 months between December 2019 and April 2021, when Rudakubana was 13 and 14 years old.
He was also in contact with the police, the courts, the juvenile justice system, social services and mental health services.
“However, between themselves, those agencies failed to identify the horrific risk and danger he posed to others,” Ms Cooper said.
“We also need more independent responses from both Stop and all the other agencies who came into contact with this extremely violent teenager, as well as answers about how he became so dangerous.”
Rudakubana will be sentenced on Thursday; Judge says life sentence is “inevitable.”
Sir Keir Starmer said today: “The news that the vile, sick Southport murderer will be convicted is welcome.
“It is also a time of trauma for the nation and there are serious questions to answer about how the State failed in its fundamental duty to protect these young women.
“Britain will rightly demand answers. And we will spare no effort in that search.”
After the July 2024 attacks, there were calls for more information about what authorities knew would be disclosed and violent riots took place throughout the country.
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Axel Rudakubana’s mugshot published
The people of Southport are trying to make sense of the horror.
Cooper said the government could not reveal more information about Rudakubana earlier because the Crown Prosecution Service wanted to “avoid jeopardizing legal proceedings” – including potential trials – “in accordance with the normal rules of British justice systems”.
However, the government launched an “urgent” review of Rudakubana’s contact with Stop last summer, with details set to be published this week.
Cooper said this “horrific case” comes against a “backdrop” in which increasing numbers of teenagers are being referred to Stop, investigated by counter-terrorism police and referred to other agencies “amid concerns about serious violence.” and extremism.”
“We need to face why this has happened and what needs to change,” he said.
Speaking today, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “As we learn more details of Axel Rudakubana’s horrific crimes, my thoughts are first and foremost with the families of the victims.
“We will need a full explanation of who in the government knew what and when. The public deserves the truth.
“This case is still in court and, appropriately, there are limits to what can be said at this stage.
“But once sentencing concludes Thursday, there will be many important questions that authorities will need to answer about the handling of this case and the flow of information.”
UK reform leader Nigel Farage accused the government of a “cover-up” and said an “information vacuum” led to the riots.
He called on Mrs Cooper to apologize in the House of Commons.
