‘Terrorism has changed’, says PM on Southport attacks
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has highlighted that “terrorism has changed” as Britain now confronts a “new and dangerous threat” arising from extreme violence. His remarks came in the wake of the tragic events in Southport.
From Downing Street, after the government decided to open a public inquiry into the incident, he pointed out significant failures by the system. He stated his commitment to reviewing and, if necessary, altering laws to improve safety.
Axel Rudakubana’s case is particularly troubling. He had been flagged to the Prevent anti-extremism program three times before committing the heinous crimes of murdering three young children last July.
Addressing these issues, Sir Keir assured the public that there had been no cover-up regarding Rudakubana’s background, emphasizing that transparency is key. He announced a comprehensive review of the country’s counter-extremism framework.
In a proactive move, Lord Anderson of Ipswich KC, the newly appointed independent Prevent commissioner, has been tasked with shedding light on any shadowy areas within the system.
The Prime Minister noted a shift in the nature of threats—from organized groups like al-Qaeda to individuals acting alone fueled by material found online. These “loners” could cause unprecedented harm without a specific ideology.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted that the inquiry into Rudakubana’s actions would also scrutinize the broader issue of growing youth violence and extremism.
Statistics showed that 162 individuals were referred to Prevent last year due to concerns about potential school violence. Axel Rudakubana, despite having a violent past, managed to legally acquire a knife.
Sir Keir shared his frustration over the limitations imposed by legal restrictions, which prevented him from discussing case details sooner. He emphasized the importance of maintaining legal integrity during investigations.
The involvement of Rudakubana with an al-Qaeda manual and his creation of ricin did not prompt police to treat his actions as terrorist-related because his motivations seemed devoid of a clear ideology.
Rudakubana’s history of being excluded from school and subsequent aggressive behavior depicted a concerning trajectory that was largely unchecked.
The Lancashire Child Safeguarding Partnership reported multiple police responses to Rudakubana’s home aside from his repeated calls to Childline.
Sir Keir insisted that the criteria for Prevent interventions require revisiting and improvement as the families of the Southport victims were undoubtedly let down.
This incident, Sir Keir asserted, should be a turning point, promising that no area will be out of bounds for the public inquiry.
The Prime Minister emphasized that current failures within state institutions, as glaringly revealed in this case, must be rectified.
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, conveyed the necessity of adapting the Prevent strategy to address those fixated on violence but not aligned with a specific ideology.
On the BBC Radio 4 Today program, Hall underscored the importance of evolving Prevent to mitigate online influences.
The Conservative Party seeks to ensure the inquiry uncovers any missed opportunities that could have thwarted the attack.
Misinformation quickly spread following the Southport incident, inciting nationwide unrest. False claims about Rudakubana’s background fueled many misconceptions.
Axel Rudakubana, from Banks, Lancashire, awaits sentencing after admitting to the murders and attempted murders, alongside other grave offenses.
The government plans to implement recommendations from the Sir William Shawcross review to prevent future tragedies.
