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Southport murders latest: Anger outside Liverpool court - as MP takes action over Axel Rudakubana's 'unduly lenient' sentence

Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for at least 52 years for the murder of three girls and the attempted murder of 10 more people at a dance class last July. Follow the latest. Warning: This live page contains distressing details.

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Footage shows Southport killer hours before attack
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Today saw Axel Rudakubana, 18, jailed for at least 52 years - meaning he'll be 70 before he even has the chance for parole.

He wasn't there to hear his sentence read out in court, after he complained of feeling ill, despite being cleared by paramedics.

But there's already been some backlash to that sentence, which couldn't amount to a whole life order because he was nine days short of his 18th birthday at the time of the murders.

The MP for Southport, where the attacks happened, has requested a review of that sentence under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

A public inquiry has also been ordered to review events leading up to the attack and will look at "missed opportunities" to identify his murderous intent.

To sum up a dramatic day in court, watch our video report below or catch up with the quick recap below:

  • Rudakubana gloated to police he is "so glad the children are dead" after his arrest;
  • The court also heard a highly toxic substance called ricin was found in his bedroom;
  • Parents of one of the victims said it "shattered" their souls when their girl was taken;
  • A survivor wrote in a statement read out in court she thought the killer was "playing a joke" and said his eyes "didn't look human";
  • A week before that attack, the killer's father pleaded with a taxi driver not to take the boy to school, with the prosecution believing he intended to commit a similar attack.
Southport will 'rebuild' after shock of knife attack that 'doesn't happen here'

A Southport charity leader has said the town will "rebuild" after the "shock" of last summer's knife attack.

Marc Foreman, who has been a key figure behind fundraising, said people are feeling "hurt, pain, grieving, surprise, frustration and anger".

"But what's next is rebuilding and moving on and trying to live our lives and be part of the community," he told The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee

"And just bringing smiles and joy to the people. That's what we can do."

He recalled the day after the attack, when he went to the gym but was "just not able to do anything".

"I'm on the treadmill and I'm trying to focus and I'm crying and I'm the only person there who's not working out," he said.

"And it affected me the way that I didn't know what to think. I didn't know how to feel. 

"Somebody had come into my town and done these atrocities, done this hideous crime that... if you speak to any of the people in Southport, this sort of thing doesn't happen here."

What were the missed opportunities to stop killer Rudakubana?

By Henry Vaughan, home affairs reporter

Before Axel Rudakubana's knife attack, he was referred three times to the government's anti-extremism programme.

He'd also had contact with police, the courts, the justice system and mental health services in the years before the mass stabbing.

A review had found he became known to a range of services as far back as 2019, initially because of his increasing anxiety and social isolation, but then due to his troubling behaviour.

It's all going to be subject to a public inquiry, as we've been reporting.

Click below for a breakdown of some of the missed opportunities likely to be covered by that inquiry.

We'll set out public inquiry details soon, says home secretary

The home secretary has said she will set out details of a public inquiry soon.

Killer Axel Rudakubana had been referred to the government's anti-extremism scheme, known as Prevent, three times before the murders due to his fixation with violence.

Yvette Cooper said the government has "vowed to get the answers the country deserves" around how "this horror was allowed to happen" and to "ensure that lessons are learned".

But for today, she said "all our thoughts are with the families enduring this unimaginable pain" and the "example of strength and courage they have provided to us all".

"The whole country has been horrified beyond words by these truly horrendous, cowardly and evil crimes," Cooper said.

"We will always remember Bebe, Elsie and Alice, and the happiness they brought to their families in their short lives."

Special programme from Southport starting

Our special programme from Southport on The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee is about to start.

Watch along in the live stream above or look out for updates here.

Change law to allow maximum prison term, Southport MP says

 We reported earlier that the MP for Southport - where the attack took place - has asked for Axel Rudakubana's sentence to be reviewed (see 17:41).

Patrick Hurley said he made the request to the attorney general "with a view to making sure he is never released".

Rudakubanu could not be sentenced to a whole life order because he was not 18 at the time of the killings - with just nine days to go until his birthday.

We've just spoken to Hurley on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, and he told us he would like to see a change to that law.

"I'm hopeful that he never gets to see the light of day again - that he will indeed, as the judge has said, spend the rest of his life behind bars," he said.

"I'm well aware that he was nine days short of being 18 years old, and that prevents him being given a full life tariff.

"But if that prevents him from actually staying behind bars for the rest of his life, then I would actually want to see a change in the law to make sure that never happens again."

He also described the killer as "disgraceful" for the "utter shameful lack of remorse".

Rudakubana was not in court to hear his sentence read out, claiming he felt ill, despite paramedics clearing him.

'Exceptional circumstances demand exception'

"I don't want children to be treated as adults, but at the same time, this was an adult in all but name," Hurley added. 

"He was nine days short of his 18th birthday. He was planning this on a premeditated basis. It would not surprise me if part of that premeditation was that he decided to commit the atrocity of the multiple murders in the week prior to his 18th birthday, purely to avoid a full life tariff.

"And I think in circumstances such as this, exceptional circumstances, then exceptional circumstances demand an exception to the law."

If the law cannot be resolved to have a full life tariff in this case, he said, then "we do need to look at it to see what can be done".

Family of victim welcomes public inquiry

The family of Elsie Dot Stancombe, who was killed in the Southport attack, has welcomed a public inquiry into the case.

In a statement, the seven-year-old's family said: "It has been very clear from the outset that it is wrong that a young person, who has grown up in our society, could commit such an unspeakable act of hatred.

"It is therefore right and proper that questions need to be asked, and we welcome the announcement of a public inquiry into the events that took place."

The family also thanked police and first responders, as well as the King and Kate for visiting.

"The response and messages of love and support from our community has been incredible and to witness the people, the authorities and the community groups of Southport and Merseyside come together, in solidarity and support of one another and our family has been nothing short of overwhelming and we offer our deepest thanks to them and to our friends and family also affected by our loss," they added.

"It's a source of enormous pride and comfort, and we feel privileged to live in our town and our community."

For context: Home secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered a "thorough review" of the referrals to the government's anti-terror programme Prevent.

On each occasion, his case was assessed by counter-terror police, but not then sent for specialist support.

The public inquiry will also look to at "missed opportunities" to identify his murderous intent.

'We're stuck in a horror movie': What victims' families told court

While killer Axel Rudakubana will spend at least 52 years in jail, the grief shared between his victims' families will continue.

The parents of the girls he murdered gave statements in court today, describing their loss as "shattering" their souls.

They heard in court how their children were singing and making friendship bracelets when their killer walked in.

"It feels like we're stuck in a five-dimensional horror movie," said one of the parents.

This is what they all had to say:

Podcast: How the attack's victims are dealing with trauma

Today the survivors and families of the three girls killed in the Southport attacks had the chance to tell the court for the first time how their lives were changed forever.  

In this episode of the Daily podcast, Niall Paterson is joined by north of England correspondent Katerina Vittozzi at Liverpool Crown Court to recount what we heard.

And to find out how survivors of the attack deal with the lasting trauma, Paterson speaks to Dr Cath Hill, a survivor of the Manchester Arena attack.  

How the attack unfolded: 14 minutes of terror that left three children dead

By Natasha Muktarsingh, assistant editor, and Henry Vaughan, home affairs reporter

When yoga instructor Leanne Lucas posted an advert for a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, the two-hour dance class sold out within 11 days.

It was a beautiful summer's morning on 29 July when 26 children, all girls aged between six and 13, were dropped off by their parents to dance, play and make friendship bracelets.

Meanwhile, at his family home in the nearby village of Banks, Lancashire, Axel Rudakubana, then 17, armed himself with a 20cm kitchen knife he had earlier bought on Amazon.

This is a timeline of what happened next: