Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.
Officials approved the transfer on behalf of ministers, but a spokesperson for the department stressed it does not alter his 52-year sentence.
Next Wednesday marks two years since Rudakubana carried out an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 2024, killing three girls.
Transfer to high-security hospital
The move to Broadmoor high security hospital from the category A prison Belmarsh was first reported by the Guardian on Thursday.
Offenders who present an increased risk, and cannot be managed safely in a prison environment because of mental disorders, can be moved to secure psychiatric units. People in these units are treated as patients rather than prisoners.
Sentence remains unchanged
The 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.”
Rudakubana, now 19, was given a life sentence for the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.
