The Southport attacker, Axel Rudakubana, is believed to have viewed footage of a stabbing in Australia on social media just 40 minutes before carrying out his own attack, an inquiry has heard. Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquiry, described this as 'sobering and concerning' in terms of online harms.
Rudakubana, then 17, murdered three young girls and attempted to murder eight children and two adults on 29 July 2024 in Southport. The inquiry, held at Liverpool town hall, is examining the circumstances leading up to the attack, which Moss said was 'specifically targeting women and girls'.
The inquiry heard that Rudakubana deleted his browsing history on his laptop before the attack, but evidence showed he used a tablet to search on X for a knife attack by a teenage boy on a bishop in Australia. The search likely led to posts showing the actual stabbing, Moss said.
Moss noted that Rudakubana was a 'prolific internet user' and that the inquiry has requested information from Meta and X about his use of their platforms. The killer also purchased weapons online, including knives, crossbows, and machetes, and bought seeds to make a crude preparation of ricin.
The inquiry will explore Rudakubana's interactions with state systems, including criminal justice, education, social care, and healthcare. Moss said a central theme would be which bodies 'took ownership' for intervening to address the risks he demonstrated before the crimes.
Rudakubana was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years in January after admitting the murders and attempted murders. The inquiry continues.
