Sir Keir Starmer will deliver a statement from Downing Street on the Southport attacks after the government launched a public inquiry yesterday after killer Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls.
Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the killings, had been referred to the Prevent programme three times amid a series of missed opportunities to stop him from carrying out the attack on July 29 last year.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a public inquiry ‘that can get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change’.
The Prime Minister is expected to speak from Downing Street at 8:30am.
Follow live updates below
Public inquiry launched to ‘get to the truth’ about Rudakubana’s murders
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last night announced a public inquiry into Rudakubana’s murders that can ‘get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change’.
She said it was ‘essential’ there were answers about the ‘terrible’ Southport attack.
The Mail has learnt that authorities knew of Rudakubana’s disturbing interest in a school massacre as far back as 2019.
He was referred to the Government’s de-radicalisation scheme Prevent that year on the basis that he had been researching for information about the killing of children in school shootings.
It was reported he was also referred twice in 2021 after viewing material about the 2017 London terror attack.
But experts deemed that there was no counter-terrorism risk at the time as he was considered not to be motivated by a terrorist ideology.
Keir Starmer to give emergency address after admitting state ‘failed’ Southport victims
Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as Keir Starmer prepares to deliver an address to the nation from Downing Street on the Southport murders.
The Prime Minister will speak after the Government announced an inquiry into how the state failed to identify the risk posed by the killer Axel Rudakubana.
Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July, was referred three times to anti-extremism programme Prevent amid concerns over his fixation with violence.
But despite this and contact with other state agencies, the authorities failed to stop the attack which claimed the lives of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
The Prime Minister lashed out at the crimes committed by the ‘vile and sick’ teenager, who pleaded guilty to slaughtering three young girls in Merseyside in July.
Stick with us as we bring you live updates from Downing Street.
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Keir Starmer to address nation from Downing Street as public inquiry is launched into Southport murders: Live updates
