The top of the federal government’s counter-terror programme Forestall has reportedly stepped down after it was revealed that the Southport killer’s case was closed before the attack.
Michael Stewart has stepped down from his function at Prevent, which he has held since September 2020, after a assessment into the company revealed Axel Rudakubana’s case had been closed prematurely.
Three separate referrals have been made to Forestall about Rudakubana’s behaviour within the years earlier than the assault, in addition to six separate calls to police.
Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimal time period of 52 years for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 final 12 months.
He additionally tried to homicide eight different kids, who can’t be named for authorized causes, in addition to class teacher Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
A assessment into stop discovered there was a ample threat posed by Rudakubana to maintain his instances inside Forestall energetic however these have been closed prematurely whereas an excessive amount of focus was positioned on a scarcity of distinct ideology.
In a studying level over his first referral in 2019, the assessment mentioned there was ample info to refer Rudakubana to the following stage of the programme, known as Channel, particularly due to his age and complicated wants.
It mentioned Rudakubana’s analysis of faculty shootings, speaking about stabbing individuals and saying the terrorist assault on ‘MEN’, believed to check with the Manchester Area assault in 2017, “might have proven an actual curiosity in terrorism”.
There have been a lot of elements current to have considerations about Rudakubana and his potential vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism, it added.
The report additionally highlighted spelling errors of Rudakubana’s title in referrals, though this didn’t cease the instances being linked.
Alongside the assessment of Forestall referrals, Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper introduced {that a} public inquiry might be held to have a look at any “missed alternatives” to establish Rudakubana’s murderous intent.
The Dwelling Workplace doesn’t touch upon inside staffing.
Extra follows on this story….
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