Southport: the murder of the three girls finally recognized as a “terrorist offense”

The man accused of stabbing three girls to death at the end of July in England, an attack which sparked riots in the country, has been charged with a “terrorist” offense after the discovery of an Al-Qaeda manual at his home , announced the British police on October 30. He was also charged with manufacturing ricin, a very powerful poison.

The murder of girls aged 6, 7 and 9 on July 29 in Southport (northwest England) during a dance class inspired by pop star Taylor Swift, shocked the country and triggered protests. largest riots in England for 13 years.

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Violent protests took place in dozens of cities, with authorities saying rumors circulating online described the attack as terrorist and carried out by an asylum seeker. We later learned that the suspect was born in Wales to a family originally from Rwanda.

The terrorist trail was not included in the investigation into the murders, and the motivations of the alleged perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, aged 18, were declared unknown.

The “terrorist offence” finally recognized

On Tuesday, however, police announced new charges against him, following searches of his home in the days following the Southport attack.

Axel Rudakubana is accused of having produced ricin, a poison found at his home, said Serena Kennedy, head of police in Merseyside, in the northwest of England.

The young man is charged with “possession of information […] likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism,” she added, specifying that it is an Al-Qaeda training manual.

Axel Rudakubana appeared in court on October 31, where he refused to speak. The trial for the Southport attack is scheduled for January. The young man is charged with the murder of the three girls as well as with injuring eight other children and two adults.

No “terrorist incident” yet despite speculation

“At this time, the counterterrorism police have not declared that the attack on Monday July 29 was a terrorist incident,” Serena Kennedy recalled during a press conference. “I recognize that the new accusations may give rise to speculation,” she admitted. According to Serena Kennedy, there was no ricin at the scene of the attack.

“We strongly advise against anyone speculating about the motivations behind this case,” added the police official. “I ask you to be patient, not to engage in rumors and speculation and not to believe everything you read on social networks,” Serena Kennedy insisted to the public.

Downing Street denies cover-up, opposition calls cover-up

Downing Street quickly had to deny having withheld information about the attacks from the public. “Charging decisions and when they are made are a matter for the prosecution,” a spokesperson said.

Two leading lights of the Conservative Party, competing to lead the Tories, have demanded explanations from Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He must “urgently explain to the country what he knew about the Southport attack and when he knew it,” said one of them, Robert Jenrick. “The harsh reality of mass migration is hidden. We need the truth,” he added.

“The state should not lie to its own citizens,” continued Robert Jenrick, in the race to become leader of the Conservative Party and thus leader of the opposition. “We do not know why this information was withheld. Why did it take months for police to come up with basic facts about this case? “, he asked.

According to the BBC, senior government officials have been informed in recent weeks of the possibility of new charges against Axel Rudakubana.

During the demonstrations at the end of July and the beginning of August, the police made around a thousand arrests. Hundreds of people were charged and several of them sentenced to prison terms.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times.