Downing Street Denies Allegations of Withholding Information on Southport Attacks Amidst Terror Charges
Downing Street has refuted claims that it withheld information from the public regarding the Southport attacks, following questions from Conservative leadership candidates about a potential cover-up after the announcement of terror-related charges against the suspect.
Merseyside Police reported that Axel Rudakubana, 18, accused of fatally stabbing three young girls during a dance class in Southport, has been charged with producing a deadly poison and a terror-related offence. He faces charges of producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing information deemed useful for someone planning or committing an act of terrorism. Rudakubana is scheduled to appear via videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Rudakubana was previously charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, who were tragically killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Hart Street, Southport, on July 29. Additional charges include the attempted murder of eight other children, dance instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes, as well as possession of a knife.
Downing Street emphasized that the timing of the new charges was determined solely by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), not the Government. However, Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick expressed concern, suggesting that critical information might have been withheld.
“Any indication of a cover-up could irreparably harm public trust in the transparency of crime reporting in our country. Keir Starmer must clarify what he knew about the Southport attack and when he became aware of it,” Jenrick stated. “The hard truth about mass migration is being obscured. We need honesty—and we need change.”
Fellow Conservative contender Kemi Badenoch echoed these sentiments, calling for thorough scrutiny from Parliament. Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Badenoch said, “While we must respect contempt of court rules to avoid prejudicing the case, Parliament is the proper forum for asking these serious questions.”
Downing Street reiterated that the Government was not involved in deciding the timing of the charging announcement, nor in withholding any details from the public. “Charging decisions, and when they’re made, fall under the purview of the CPS,” a Downing Street spokeswoman stated, further denying any government interference.
The additional charges follow searches at Rudakubana’s residence in Banks, Lancashire. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that the terror-related offence pertains to a PDF document titled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants: The Al Qaeda Training Manual. The searches, conducted in the days after the attack, revealed the ricin, though the exact discovery date remains undisclosed.