Keir Starmer clarifies that withholding details about the Southport attacker was not a personal decision amid ongoing inquiries into the case
Southport: So, there’s been a lot of buzz about the Southport attacker, right? Prime Minister Keir Starmer made it clear that it wasn’t his personal call to keep info under wraps about the ricin and a terrorist document found at the attacker’s home. He faced some tough questions about what he knew and when.
Police discovered the ricin, which is super dangerous, along with a document when they searched Axel Rudakubana’s place after he tragically killed three girls at a holiday club. Starmer mentioned that the info shared so far was limited to protect the trial’s integrity.
After Rudakubana pleaded guilty, Starmer kicked off an inquiry. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp is pushing for this inquiry to dig into what the Government knew and why it wasn’t shared sooner.
During a press conference, Starmer was asked if he was aware of the ricin and the document. He confirmed he was kept in the loop but emphasized that he had to follow the law, just like journalists do.
He said it wasn’t his personal choice to withhold info, and it’s all about ensuring justice for the victims and their families. Rudakubana admitted to having a knife during the attack and producing ricin before the incident.
He also had a PDF titled “Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants,” which raised eyebrows. Starmer pointed out that this case highlights a new kind of terrorism threat from individuals acting alone, often young men isolated in their rooms.
Police found other disturbing materials on Rudakubana’s devices, showing a fascination with extreme violence, but there was no clear political or ideological motive. Philp argued that more info could have been shared without affecting legal proceedings, stressing the need for transparency.
He referenced comments from Jonathan Hall KC, who suggested that the Government and police should be more open about criminal cases to prevent misinformation from spreading online. Philp believes these are valid questions for the inquiry to address.
Reform UK’s Richard Tice accused the Government of misleading the public about Rudakubana’s motives, saying it’s hard to believe they didn’t realize he was a serious threat right away. He pointed out that having an al-Qaida training manual is a pretty clear sign of a political agenda.
