Southport attack NOT terror related, cops insist after suspect charged with new offences

Cops found a potentially deadly toxin and a “Jihad training manual” in a search of Axel Rudakubana’s Lancashire home following the knife attack on a children's Taylor Swift themed dance party

Police have not declared the Southport knife attack a "terrorist incident" despite cops finding an Al Qaeda “training manual” at the home of the man accused of the killings.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in relation to the savage knife attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance party full of children in July.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed while eight other children and two adults were left seriously injured. At a news conference at Merseyside Police headquarters today (Tues) the force revealed a potentially deadly toxin and a “Jihad training manual” had been found in a search of Axel Rudakubana’s Lancashire home.

The teen is to be charged with two terror offences, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said. However the force stressed Counter Terrorism police have not declared the Southport attack a "terrorist incident".

"The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Axel Rudakubana, aged 18 from Lancashire, to be charged with two further offences,” Chief Constable Kennedy said. “Axel Rudakubana already faces three charges of murder, 10 charges of attempted murder, and one charge of possession of a knife, all relating to the incident at Hart Street on the 29th of July, 2024.

"The two further offences relate to evidence obtained by Merseyside police during searches of Axel Rudakubana's home address as part of a lengthy and complex investigation which has been ongoing since the 29th of July.

"The additional charges are production of a biological toxin, namely ricin, contrary to Section One of the biological weapons act 1974 and possession of information, namely a PDF file entitled military studies in the jihad against the tyrants, the al Qaeda training Manual likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act. 2000."

They added that there was no evidence any of the victims of the Southport attack, emergency responders or wider community had been exposed to ricin.

“At this time, Counter Terrorism Policing has not declared the attack on Monday 29 July a terrorist incident. I recognise that the new charges, may lead to speculation. The matter for which Axel Rudakubana has been charged with under the Terrorism Act does not require motive to be established. For a matter to be declared a terrorist incident, motivation would need to be established."