'Why did evil killer's family let him have weapons?'

News/Southport Inquiry

- By PATRICK EDRICH & ELEANOR BARLOW

SOUTHPORT killer Axel Rudakubana could and should have been stopped before launching his murderous attack on children, a public inquiry heard.

Families of the children he stabbed and killed criticised the role of safeguarding services and questioned the part played by Rudakubana's own parents, asking why they allowed him to possess weapons.

Warning signs were missed and the killer's history of disturbing and violent behaviour not addressed, the inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall heard.

Rudakubana, 18, killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and attempted to murder 10 others in the attack last July.

Nicholas Bowen KC, representing the bereaved families, read a statement from the Stancombe family.

It said: “When a parent knows their child is dangerous, allows them to possess weapons and authorities have already visited the home, how is that not neglect?