A Home Office review has exposed significant failings in how counter-terrorism police handled Rudakubana, despite repeated warnings.
According to a redacted report, his growing obsession with mass violence was inadequately addressed, even though he had been referred multiple times to the government’s Prevent programme, which aims to deter individuals from becoming involved in terrorism.
Rudakubana, 18, admitted to the horrific knife attack that claimed the lives of Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, Bebe King, 6, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9. The attack, described as “pure evil,” also injured eight other children and two adults. This week, he was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison.
The Prevent programme, part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, was informed of Rudakubana’s troubling behaviour as early as 2019. Teachers at The Range High School in Formby raised concerns about his fascination with school shootings and mass violence, noting his habit of discussing disturbing news articles about attacks in the US.
However, counter-terrorism officers dismissed these warnings, interpreting his behaviour as a mere interest in current affairs rather than a sign of radicalisation.
The review reveals that Rudakubana had a history of alarming incidents, including bringing a knife to school and attacking a classmate.
Despite this, Prevent officers repeatedly concluded that he posed no threat. His case was closed in 2019, even after he expressed interest in events like the London Bridge attack and topics related to the IRA, MI5, and the Middle East.
Last year, 162 individuals were referred to Prevent over concerns about their interest in school shootings, according to Home Office data.
A source familiar with the review told The Sunday Times: “He frequently tried to discuss world events with his teachers, often bringing up mass shootings during IT class. It was unusual behaviour for someone his age. Yet counter-terrorism officers dismissed it as an interest in news and current affairs, not a precursor to radicalisation.”
The report highlights systemic failures in recognising and addressing the warning signs of Rudakubana’s escalating violent tendencies, leaving many to question how such a tragedy could have been prevented.
