Southport Inquiry Finds Murders of Three Girls 'Foreseeable and Avoidable'

Agencies Blamed for 'Merry-Go-Round' of Responsibility in Deadly 2024 Attack

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:35pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered glass lens from a security camera, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the failure of public systems to prevent the Southport attack.The Southport attack inquiry found that a series of missed opportunities by authorities to intervene with the perpetrator exposed systemic failures that enabled the deadly 2024 assault.Southport Today

A new inquiry into the 2024 Southport attack that killed three girls and injured 10 others has found the tragedy was 'foreseeable and avoidable' due to a failure by authorities and the perpetrator's parents to intervene despite clear warning signs. The inquiry chair, Sir Adrian Fulford, said the public services lacked a system to properly monitor high-risk individuals, leading to missed opportunities to prevent the attack.

Why it matters

The Southport attack exposed major gaps in how public agencies share information and coordinate interventions for individuals who pose a serious risk of harm. The inquiry's findings highlight the need for systemic reforms to better protect vulnerable children and the public from foreseeable violence.

The details

The inquiry found that the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, had a history of concerning behavior, including making threats to kill a classmate in 2019 and being found with a knife on a bus in 2022, but authorities failed to take appropriate action. Rudakubana's parents also 'failed to stand up to his behavior and set boundaries.' If he had been arrested in 2022, the 2024 attack that killed Bebe King, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Elsie Dot Stancombe likely would not have occurred.

  • In October 2019, Rudakubana made multiple calls to Childline saying he wanted to kill a classmate.
  • In March 2022, Rudakubana went missing from home and was found with a knife on a bus, telling police he wanted to stab someone.
  • The Southport attack occurred on July 29, 2024, killing three girls and injuring 10 others.

The players

Axel Rudakubana

The perpetrator of the 2024 Southport attack who had a history of concerning behavior that authorities failed to properly address.

Sir Adrian Fulford

The chair of the Southport attack inquiry who found the tragedy was 'foreseeable and avoidable.'

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What they’re saying

“Instead, some form of grave violence ... had been clearly, repeatedly and unambiguously signposted over many years.”

— Sir Adrian Fulford, Inquiry Chair

“Nevertheless, I consider that if AR had been arrested on 17 March 2022, the attack on 29 July 2024 would probably not have occurred.”

— Sir Adrian Fulford, Inquiry Chair

What’s next

The second phase of the Southport attack inquiry will begin immediately and return findings in spring 2027. It will consider establishing a single agency to monitor high-risk individuals, developing a shared multi-agency risk assessment tool, and whether internet access should be restricted for children who pose a significant threat.

The takeaway

The Southport attack tragedy highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to improve information sharing, risk assessment, and coordination between public agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable individuals and the broader community from foreseeable violence.