By 13, such was the concern about Axel Rudakubana’s violent and aggressive behaviour that mental health experts, social workers and teachers held a multi-agency meeting to discuss him.
Four years later, before he had even turned 18, Rudakubana stabbed three girls to death and injured eight others and three adults at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Evidence heard at the public inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall this week laid bare for the first time the scale of intervention in Rudakubana’s young life before he carried out one of Britain’s worst atrocities.
Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar died in the attack (Photos: PA)David Temkin, KC, acting for the families of injured children, said: “Warning signs were missed, support was inconsistent, and opportunities to intervene were lost.”
They initially lived in Cardiff, where Axel was born, before moving to Southport in 2013 when his mother obtained a job in a laboratory. The family moved to a house in Banks, West Lancashire, in 2017.
The parents suggest there was a “marked deterioration” in Rudakubana’s behaviour from 2019, around the time he was excluded from school for taking a knife into the building, the inquiry heard.
However, a number of professionals involved with Rudakubana “took issue” with his parents, Mr Moss said.
Well-wishers lay flowers in Southport on the first anniversary of the stabbings (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Mr Moss said the inquiry may also examine the parents involvement in how Rudakubana was successfuly able to order weapons online while under the age of 18.
Royal Mail have told the inquiry they believe it was signed for by Rudakubana’s father.
2. Rudakubana’s GP
Rudakubana’s GP, based in Sefton, first referred him to mental health services when he was just 12.
Rudakubana was first referred to Alder Hey Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) in April 2019.
The inquiry will look at the treatment and medication he received and whether sufficient assessment was made of the risks he posed.
4. Camhs Lancashire
A referral was made by the special needs coordinator at his school in November 2018, however this was not accepted because his GP was based in Sefton.
Police forces had several dealings with Rudakubana over four years between 2019 and 2023, the inquiry heard.
He was visited by a Pc at his home address who discussed the matter with him and his parents.
6. Lancashire County Council – MASH
Lancashire County Council were also alerted to Rudakubana after his disclosure of bringing a knife into school.
Merseyside Police first dealt with him just a few months later in December 2019 when he returned to his former school in a taxi armed with a knife.
Rudakubana was arrested and charged with offences including assault, possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.
8. Child and Youth Justice Service
This meant he was dealt with by the Child and Youth Justice Service, a public body run by the Ministry of Justice.
After his conviction for the criminal offence, he was moved to a different part of the council’s children’s services called Children’s Social Care, for cases where the council has identified “a child in need”, the inquiry heard.
10. Counter Terrorism Police North West
The first was made by staff at the Acorns School, where he attended after being excluded, in December 2019.
The public inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford sitting at Liverpool Town Hall (Source: PA)
Staff had also discovered him researching school shootings.
Two further referrals in 2021 were also assessed and closed.
12. Childline
Rudakubana contacted Childline, the free counselling service for kids and young people, via online chat on October 2019.
It was this disclosure which set off many of the interventions by other services, the inquiry heard.
The company provided “therapeutic” counselling sessions.
14. The Range School
Rudakubana attended The Range School in Formby from 2017 when he joined in Year 7, until 2019 when he was premanently excluded.
In October 2019, he told staff “that’s why teachers get murdered” after being given a detention and was then involved in a fight.
The inquiry will be looking at how the school handled Rudakubana’s conduct and behaviour.
Shortly after joining in November 2019, he was found to be viewing distressing material on the internet during IT class, including material on mass school shootings in America, ‘degloving injuries’ and searches on weapons.
16. Presfield school
It was also around this time that Rudakubana was formally diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
Rudakubana was enrolled from March 2022 until June 2024.
Despite numerous home visits, Rudakubana failed to attend Presfield the vast majority of the time, Mr Moss said.
The inquiry has heard how Rudakubana was able to buy a large number of weapons – including knives, machetes and a bow and arrow – as well as the components for ricin on the internet, while under the age of 18.
One query was: “Does the person who receives the delivery have to be the same person on the ID or not?”
18. Amazon
The inqury heard Rudakubana was also able to buy weapons and seeds which are used in the preparation of ricin from Amazon.
Rudakubana bought a bow and arrows from Amazon in 2022 while aged 15.
The inquiry has asked X for information as to how Rudakubana, then aged 17, was able to view graphic footage of the Sydney stabbing on its platform.
20. Sefton council
The council was notified when he was excluded over the knife incident in 2019 and the decision could have been subject to a review had his parent’s requested one, but they didn’t.
The council will face questions over Rudakubana’s poor attendance at Presfield, the inquiry heard.
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