Southport attack suspect appears in court, charged with terror and biological weapons offences

Mark White on Southport suspect appearing in court
GB News
Mark White

By Mark White


Published: 30/10/2024

- 10:18

Updated: 30/10/2024

- 12:20

Axel Rudakubana appeared via a videolink at Westminster Magistrates court

The teenage Southport attack suspect has appeared in court to answer two new charges of making a biological toxin and possessing an Al Qaeda terror manual.

18-year-old Axel Rudakubana appeared via a videolink at Westminster Magistrates court, as the two new charges were added to the indictment against him.


He is accused of manufacturing the deadly toxin Ricin, an offence under the Biological Weapons Act.

Authorities say a quantity of the biological toxin was discovered at the teenager's home in the days after the deadly attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town.

Axel Rudakubana in court

Axel Rudakubana appeared in court

PA

The second charge relates to the possession of a PDF of an Al Qaeda jihadi training manual, an offence under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Rudakubana is already facing charges he murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who all died of knife wounds.

Eight other primary school aged children and two adults, who were also at the Hart Space venue in Southport, were injured in the attack.

Rudakubana, who wore a prison issue grey tracksuit, sat throughout the hearing on the end of a camera link with part of his tracksuit top pulled up over his face.

His lawyer said his client would not speak to confirm his personal details, but that he understood the new charges against him.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Axel Rudakubana

He is facing two new charges of making a biological toxin and possessing an Al Qaeda terror manual

The attack on July 29 left a community traumatised and sparked widespread public disorder in multiple towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland.

Hundreds have since been convicted of offences relating to that disorder.

Some have been jailed for offences, including the spreading of what authorities say was false information about the background of the suspect and the motivation for the attack.

Although Axel Rudakubana is now facing terror and biological weapon charges, police say they are still not in a position to declare the Southport attack at terrorist incident.

Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva AguiarBebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were all killed in the attackFamily handouts

In a news conference on Tuesday, Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "You may have seen speculation online that the police are deciding to keep things from the public. This is certainly not the case.

"We have been given extensive guidance by the CPS in relation to what we can say publicly to ensure the integrity of the court proceedings are protected, and therefore we are restricted in what we can share with you now, while the proceedings are live.”

At Westminster Magistrates Court, Aexl Rudakubana was remanded back into custody.

He will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 13 November for a plea and case management hearing.

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