Referrals to anti-terror programme soar by 27%

A RECORD 8,778 suspected extremists were referred to the Prevent scheme in the year after the Southport atrocity.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES

This was a 27% increase from 6,922 in 2023/24.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, 19, was referred to Prevent over his fascination with school massacres and violence.

But officials ruled his “concerning” behaviour did not meet the threshold for intervention. He went on to kill three girls on July 29 last year.

Data now shows that from that date to March 31, there were 6,350 referrals to Prevent - a 34% jump on the 4,722 in the same period a year earlier.