The family of Axel Rudakubana are “devastated” following his knife attack on a Southport holiday club.The family of Axel Rudakubana have said they are “devastated” following his depraved knife attack on a Taylor Swift dance lesson in Southport.
The 18-year-old of Banks, Lancashire, killed six-year-old Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and injured 10 others when he launched the attack on July 29.In a statement, leaders of The Community Church in Southport, attended by Rudakubana’s father Alphonse, said the family had been moved to a secret location for their protection.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.”For the sake of clarity, Alphonse’s son and family never attended our Sunday gatherings, nor played any active part in church life. As a consequence, we have nothing further to say other than the detail given in this statement.
“The Rudakubana family have been devastated following this terrible incident and they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home in Banks to a secret location that we are unaware of.”The killing sparked anger across the country, with riots taking place in several locations in the days following the attack.
Rudakubana will be sentenced on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to three counts of murder yesterday, Monday, January 20.Leaders said the church community had been “saddened and shocked” by the attack.They added: “This tragedy and the devastating murder of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar has impacted our town and nation.”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.”
The case has led to much soul searching amongst authorities after it emerged that he had been referred to the government’s deradicalisation programme prevent three times.
It can now also be reported that he had been kicked out of mainstream education in year 9 for carrying a knife and that he also returned to his former school and attacked pupils with a hockey stick.
The case has led Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to announce a national inquiry to determine what lessons can be learned from the failings of authorities to prevent Rudakubana, who was known to have previously bought knives and accessed extremist material, from carrying out his sickening attack.