Warning signs missed: Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s parents asked police four times for help with teen

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery A knife identical to the one used in the attack was found at Rudakubana’s home All the police interactions are set to be scrutinised in a public inquiry into the atrocity, which claimed the lives of three young girls, after the prime minister said the country had “failed in its duty” to protect the children from the troubled teenager. open image in gallery Police searched Rudakubana’s bedroom at his parent’s home A third referral was made in April 2021, after a teacher saw he was using a school computer to research the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, which saw eight killed and 48 injured by Islamist extremists who rammed pedestrians before launching a knife attack. open image in gallery Rudakubana, now 18, admitted murdering Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar, in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class “Although improvements to help tackle this challenge have been made, it is right that questions are asked about what more needs to be done across the whole Prevent system and beyond.” Measures needed include better identification and a reduction in the “ready access to weapons and horrific, toxic, online material”, she added, noting police have found no evidence to explain why he chose to attack those children or that event. Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy said it was “devastating” to think things could have been done to prevent the atrocious attack, which also left eight girls and two adults wounded.