Southport murder suspect charged with terror offence

A teenager accused of murdering three children in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport has been charged with a terror offence and making a biological weapon.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

Axel Rudakubana was charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article over the 29 July attack, which sparked widespread riots.

Six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were killed in the attack, while nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar died from her injuries in hospital afterwards.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service announced yesterday that the 18-year-old has been further charged following searches of his home address in Banks, Lancashire. Officers discovered a substance which was found to be ricin, a poison found in castor beans.

They also discovered a PDF file titled “Military studies in the jihad against the tyrants: the Al Qaeda training manual” – a document likely to be useful to someone committing or preparing to commit a terrorist attack.

He has been charged with the production of a biological toxin, contrary to Section One of the Biological Weapons Act 1974, and possessing the manual under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act.