Axel Rudakubana: anti-terrorist scheme left 1,600 violence-obsessed children free to roam the streets | United Kingdom

The government’s counter-terrorism programme, Previe, is under fire after it failed to intervene in the case of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, reportedly leaving up to 1,600 violence-obsessed children free to roam the streets.

Rudakubana, 18, murdered three children in a horrific knife attack last year and, despite repeated warnings about his growing obsession with extreme violence, avoided concluding that he posed no threat, allowing him to remain without supervision.

The Rudakubana attack left three young children dead: Elsie Dot Stancombe, Seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

He was sentenced to at least 52 years in prison, but avoided a full life term, as he was 17 at the time of the murders.

Rudakubana was first warned in 2019 after teachers raised concerns about his fascination with school shootings and mass violence.

However, counterterrorism officials dismissed his behavior as an unusual interest in world news.

Even after Rudakubana attacked a classmate with a hockey stick and was caught carrying a knife, he was prevented from raising his case for further intervention.

According the sunPrevent has also allowed another 1,600 teenagers with violent tendencies to walk freely in the last four years.

Of the 1,830 young people referred to the scheme, only 228 were placed under full monitoring.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has now called for “urgent reforms” after missed opportunities to act in the Rudakubana case.

talking to the sunCooper said: “I am clear that urgent reforms are needed to prevent. The program’s work is vital to stopping extremists and preventing terrorism.

“But he missed three opportunities to intervene in the Southport killer case, and quick changes are needed.”

A Home Office review revealed that too much emphasis was placed on the absence of an ideological motive, while Rudakubana’s dangerous fixation on violence was overlooked.

The data also shows that referrals to prevent school massacre obsessions are on the rise, with many cases linked to young people who do not show a clear ideological agenda.

A source familiar with the review told The Sun: “He was constantly trying to talk to his teachers about world events.

“He was looking at news articles about mass shootings during IT class and trying to talk to his teacher about it. It was strange behavior for such a young child.”

Avoid officials insist that changes have been implemented since the Rudakubana case, including better training and stronger policies for repeat referrals.

However, critics argue that the program still struggles to handle cases involving young people fixated on violence without a clear ideological framework.

A full public consultation is now underway to determine how the system failed and what measures are needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Express.co.uk has contacted Prevent for comment.