Axel Rudakubana, the Southport attacker has now pleaded guilty to murder and to related terror offences. The terrorism charges relate to him possessing Ricin and having accessed Al Queda documents. We know at this stage that he had a long history of violence and an obsession with violence which meant that he had been referred to Prevent. It is also important to be clear that this does not mean that the attack itself was an act of terrorism and certainly does not mean that Rudakubana was involved in a specific terrorist plot or linked to terror organisations. We do not know if he had been radicalised. Rather, we simply know that there is a long history o violent intent for whatever reason.
It is important to note those points because Nigel Farage has used the conviction to claim that he was right all along, that there had been a government cover up and that this caused or exacerbated the riots that followed.
There are two things to remember here. First, that in terms of putting a case together and ensuring a secure prosecution is the first priority after an arrest has been made. Releasing information about a person’s past interactions with the Law may not be conducive to this. There is no obligation on the police and the Government to provide a running commentary on the development of a case at that stage.
Secondly, it seems that Farage has a short term memory. The issue that was inflaming tensions following the attack was a very specific rumour that Rudakubana was an asylum seeker. That rumour was false. Those who fanned the flames that flared up from the spark of that false rumour still need to take responsibility.
There remain serious questions to answer about whether or not enough was done to keep people safe from a disturbed, dangerous and violent young man and whether this awful tragedy could have been prevented. However, this should not be about feeding politicians egos and agendas.
Faithroots 