A lawyer for the families of the children murdered by Axel Rudakubana has described his transfer from prison to a high-security hospital as an attempt to "manipulate the system."
Transfer to Broadmoor
Rudakubana, now 19, was moved from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire earlier this week after clinical professionals concluded he could no longer be safely managed within a prison environment. The Ministry of Justice confirmed the transfer followed an assessment by clinical psychologists.
He was given a life sentence in January for the murders of seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, six-year-old Bebe King and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar during the attack at The Hart Space in Southport on July 29, 2024. He also admitted the attempted murder of 10 other people.
Families' Reaction
Chris Walker, representing the families of Alice, Elsie and Bebe, said: "The three families we represent have been made aware of this development in the last 48 hours and it is safe to say that whilst this news would devastate them at any time, the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by Axel Rudakubana, who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system."
He added: "We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further."
Background of the Attack
Rudakubana was just 17 when he entered a children's dance event and stabbed 11 children, killing three girls and injuring others, before attacking two adults who tried to intervene. Following his arrest, police discovered ricin at his family home in Banks, Lancashire, along with a cache of weapons and a second knife matching the one used in the attack, wrapped inside his duvet.
It later emerged Rudakubana had been referred to the Prevent programme on three separate occasions. He had also reportedly been prevented by his dad from travelling by taxi to Range High School just seven days before the Southport attack.
Incident at HMP Belmarsh
Last year, Rudakubana was also accused of attacking a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh. It is alleged he threw boiling water through the hatch of his cell door, causing injuries that required the officer to be taken to hospital as a precaution. The officer suffered minor injuries.
Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital, in Crowthorne, Berkshire, is the oldest of England's three high-security psychiatric hospitals and has housed some of the country's most notorious offenders, including serial killer Peter Sutcliffe. Patients at the hospital remain under strict security, with locked wards, continuous staff supervision and 24-hour CCTV monitoring. They undergo specialist therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation. Under the Mental Health Act 1983, offenders can be transferred back to prison once they are deemed no longer to require treatment in hospital.
Transfers to secure psychiatric hospitals are made only where independent clinical professionals conclude that an offender has a mental disorder which means they cannot be safely managed in prison.
Ministry of Justice Statement
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The families of those murdered and injured in Southport will be in this country's heart forever and our thoughts remain with them. Any decision to transfer an offender is made following an independent, clinical assessment, under the Mental Health Act. Following rigorous security checks, the offender has been transferred to a high-security psychiatric unit, where he will remain until assessed fit to return to prison. Officials have approved this transfer, on behalf of Ministers. This transfer does not change his sentence – which remains at 52 years – and of which he will serve every single day."
