Southport Killer Questioned Taliban Perception Before 2021 Murders

Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three young girls in a 2024 attack, questioned public perceptions of the Taliban during a 2021 home visit by Lancashire County Council support workers, comparing the group to other governments like the U.S. and asking why some governments go unpunished while others do not. Support workers described his comments as sporadic and questioning rather than extremist, though concerns were raised about his extreme views. Despite multiple previous referrals to the government's anti-terrorism Prevent program, no new referral was made following this visit. An email from a supervisor expressed concern about the risk posed by Rudakubana's views and suggested a referral might be necessary, but this was not acted upon. The inquiry highlighted a missed opportunity for information sharing with counter-terrorism authorities. Overall, the case underscores challenges in assessing and responding to potential radicalization risks in social service contexts.