Family of Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana ‘moved to secret location by police for their protection’
The family of the Southport attacker have been moved to a “secret location” by police for their own protection, leaders at the church his father attended say.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, yesterday pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder for fatally stabbing Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and injuring 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on 29 July last year.
Leaders of The Community Church in Southport, where Rudakubana’s father Alphonse was a “valued part” of the congregation, released a statement addressing previous speculation about him after his son’s plea.
In it, they describe the family as “devastated” and claim “they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home in Banks [Lancashire] to a secret location that we are unaware of”.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King.
Pic: Merseyside Police
Police and forensic investigators at the scene of the Southport attack on 29 July 2024. Pic: PA
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In the aftermath of the stabbings in Southport last summer, disinformation around Rudakubana’s identity falsely claimed he was Muslim and an asylum seeker.
Addressing speculation after his guilty plea lifted reporting restrictions, church leaders Dave Gregg, Geoff Grice, Harry Pickett, and Mike Rothwell said: “Axel was born and went to school in the United Kingdom, he has autism and has struggled with mental health issues.
“Prior to the major incident in Southport, he had been living with his parents in the village of Banks near Southport.
Rioting broke out in Southport after the fatal stabbing of three girls. Pic: PA
“There has been the inevitable speculation about his family and background – with his father Alphonse being named in the national press. It has also been reported that his parents are both Christians and attend a local church.
“To prevent unnecessary intrusion into other churches in our town, we can confirm that over the last few years, Alphonse Rudakubana has been a valued part of The Community Church family.”
They added that Mr Rudakubana’s son and family “never attended our Sunday gatherings, nor played any active part in church life”.
The statement concluded by describing the deaths of the three young girls as a “tragedy”.
It added: “The subsequent outpouring of love and support by the local community actually reflects the true nature and spirit of our town, but sadly, this was eclipsed by the appalling attack – fuelled by fake racially motivated news on social media – on the local mosque, which resulted in so many awful injuries to police and damage being caused to buildings and property.”
Axel Rudakubana
Attacker’s history of violence
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that the UK faced a “new threat” of attackers such as Rudakubana, who he described as “loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom accessing all manner of material online, desperate for notoriety, sometimes inspired by traditional terrorist groups, but fixated on that extreme violence seeming only for its own sake”.
He appointed a new independent commissioner for the UK’s anti-extremism scheme Prevent.
After his guilty plea, it emerged Rudakubana was referred to the Prevent scheme three times in the 17 months before the attack over concerns about his fixation with violence – but he was eventually deemed not to require any intervention.
The teenager, who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, was expelled from the school in 2019 over claims he was carrying a knife after telling Childline he was being racially bullied and brought the knife to protect himself.
It is understood that, after his exclusion, he returned to the school to target a former bully or someone he had a grievance with and assaulted someone with a hockey stick.
Rudakubana then attended two specialist schools, where teachers were concerned about his behaviour.
Newcastle United have won their first domestic trophy in 70 years after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup.
Tens of thousands of Magpies fans flooded the capital to watch their team end their drought against last year’s winners at Wembley.
TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin were among fans rejoicing in the stands, while celebrations erupted across Newcastle.
The club lifted the European Inter-City Fairs Cup in 1969 but haven’t won a domestic trophy since their 1955 FA Cup victory.
Newcastle win Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin celebrate in the stands. Pic: Reuters
Fans celebrate in a pub in Newcastle. Pic: Reuters
Liverpool, who have won 38 major trophies since the Black and Whites last got their hands on any silverware, went into the match as heavy favourites.
The last time the teams met, in the league last month, Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win – and they sit comfortably top of the Premier League table, seemingly headed for the title.
But Newcastle had the best of the first half and got their reward as local hero Dan Burn headed home from a corner just before half time, sending supporters into dreamland.
They found the back of the net again early in the second half, but the celebrations were cut short as the goal was disallowed for offside.
Dan Burn (left) and Fabian Schar celebrate winning the Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
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Minutes later, Alexander Isak struck and this time it did count, doubling Newcastle’s lead and sending the Geordie faithful in the crowd wild once more.
Liverpool gave themselves a lifeline in stoppage time with a goal from Federico Chiesa – after a tense VAR check – but Newcastle held on to secure the win.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates. Pic: PA
Bruno Guimaraes (left) and Anthony Gordon celebrate. Pic: PA
‘For them it’s like the World Cup’
Eddie Howe, who became the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp in 2008 in front of a crowd of 88,513, told Sky Sports he was “very emotional”.
“We just knew what was at stake today for all the people here, all the people back in Newcastle and we just wanted to do them proud,” he said.
“We were desperate to try and win the trophy after all the years of hurt. I’m so pleased not just with the result, but with the performance. I thought we deserved the win today.”
Bruno Guimaraes described his side’s win as “one of the best days” of his life, telling Sky Sports: “It’s a lot for these fans, they deserve everything.”
“For them this is like the World Cup. People have not seen Newcastle as champions. We are here to make history and I’m very happy. We deserve this, this is unbelievable.”
Liverpool’s League Cup loss comes just days after the Premier League leaders were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St Germain (PSG) on penalties.
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