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”.
Image: Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King.
Pic: Merseyside Police
Image: Police and forensic investigators at the scene of the Southport attack on 29 July 2024. Pic: PA
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.
Image: 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.”
Image: 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.
Two teenagers have died and another is fighting for his life after a late night car crash in Shropshire.
A collision involving a silver Audi A1 occurred shortly before 11.15pm on Friday in Offoxey Road, Tong – near the town of Shifnal, West Mercia Police said.
It has since been confirmed an 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 17-year-old boy died in hospital.
Another 17-year-old boy is still being treated in hospital and is in a critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries in the crash.
A fourth, also a 17-year-old boy, sustained what has been described as “life-changing” injuries but is in a stable condition, police said.
“Officers investigating the collision are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have information about the incident to get in touch,” a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with information is footage is asked to contact DC Rich Owen on 07814773916 or SCIUNorth@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 554 of 14 March
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.
Image: Newcastle win Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
Image: TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin celebrate in the stands. Pic: Reuters
Image: 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.
Image: Dan Burn (left) and Fabian Schar celebrate winning the Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
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.
Image: Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates. Pic: PA
Image: 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.
Prince Harry’s immigration files must be made public by this Tuesday, a US court has ruled.
Judge Carl Nichols ordered documents relating to the Duke of Sussex‘s US visa application to be released as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
The FOI request was brought by conservative US think-tank the Heritage Foundation, which alleges the duke may have concealed past drug use and that should have disqualified him from obtaining a US visa.
Judge Nichols ordered the US Department of Homeland Security to release a redacted version of the documents no later than Tuesday, according to court filings dated 15 March.
However, in September 2024, the same judge previously said that the public did not have a strong interest in the disclosure of Harry’s immigration records.
But the Heritage Foundation wanted the judgment changed.
It questioned why Harry was allowed into the US in 2020 after the royal referenced taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his book Spare.
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In his memoir, Harry said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”
The foundation also said that answers about his prior drug use in his visa application could raise questions over the US government’s integrity.
Despite refusing the previous FOI request, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security agreed in February to release redacted versions of the forms.
“Specifically, Defendant would propose redacting all information in these items that would reveal information that the Court has determined Defendant can withhold,” department lawyer John Bardo wrote in a court filing.
In February, President Donald Trump ruled out deporting Harry from the US, telling The New York Post: “I’ll leave him alone.”
He added: “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump and called him “divisive” and a “misogynist”.
Mr Trump, in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year, also said Harry should not receive preferential treatment.
He said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
The royal moved to the US in 2020, following a brief spell in Canada, with his wife Meghan, after the couple’s split from the rest of the Royal Family. They have lived in California ever since.