Southport: Lindsay Hoyle fires stern warning to MPs over new charges facing attack suspect Axel Rudakubana

The 18-year-old, accused of murdering three young schoolgirls in Southport and attempting to murder 10 other people, has now also been charged with attempting to make a biological weapon using the deadly toxin Ricin.

In addition, Rudakubana is also facing a second new charge under the Terrorism Act, of possession an Al Qaeda terror manual.

Opening up PMQs, Hoyle urged MPs not to address the charges.

“A suspect is awaiting trial after being charged with multiple offences”, he said.

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“That means the House of Judiciary Resolution is engaged and references should not be made to the case.

“I know the honourable members wish to see justice done in this case. It is therefore of paramount importance that nothing is said in this House which could potentially prejudice a proper trial or lead to it being abandoned.

“I know it can be frustrating when we can see reports in the media of the matters that we are not free to discuss here.”

Rudakubana appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today via videolink from HMP Belmarsh on Wednesday morning for a hearing lasting less than 10 minutes.

He was seen sat holing his sweater over the bottom half of his face.

He did not respond when asked to confirm his name, and a security officer with him at the prison told the court he had chosen not to speak.

Stan Reiz KC, defending, said: “Mr Rudakubana has remained silent at previous hearings as well.

“For reasons of his own he has chosen not to answer the question.”