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Axel Rudakubana's dad 'didn't let family friend meet' would-be Southport murdererThe father of Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana, 18, refused to let a friend visit the family home the year
before he murdered three children at Taylor Swift dance class, new reports sayNewsBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas News Reporter16:26, 27 Jan 2025Updated 16:27, 27 Jan 2025Southport attacker Axel
Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for 52 years last week (Image: PA) Axel Rudakubana's dad did not let a family friend visit him the year before the Southport attack and spoke of the "challenges"
of raising children, it has been claimed.
Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years last week for the murder of three girls who were attending a Taylor Swift dance event in the seaside town in July. Alice da Silva Aguiar,
nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and six-year-old Bebe King died from their injuries after he entered the Hart Space dance studio and stabbed "as many people as he could" before they could
escape.
The teenager then ran outside and knifed the children in the back as they tried to get away. Rudakubana was also convicted of the attempted murder of 10 other people including 8 children,
as well as the production of ricin and possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual.
READ MORE: 'My go-to shampoo gets me the longest time between washes and leaves my hair clean and fresh'It is claimed Rudakubana's dad had refused to allow friends to visit the family
home(Image: MERSEYSIDE POLICE/AFP via Getty) His family did not appear in court for his trial, and have been moved to a secret location by police for their own protection, members of the
church once attended by father Alphonse Rudakubana said. Now, sources in Rwanda - where both of Axel Rudakubana's parents moved to Britain from - have claimed that they rarely spoke of their
children on visits home. Rudakubana's own grandmother has said she never the 18-year-old, and was aware that he suffered from mental health problems.
Article continues below Rudakubana's parents also appeared reluctant to allow friends around the family back in England. One friend who went for a coffee with Alphonse in June 2023 after
being denied a visit to the family home said he was "vague" about his family in conversation, and mentioned "challenges" involved in raising his children.
According to the Times, the friend said: "When I asked if they ever visited Rwanda, he hesitated. Brushing off the question with a wave of his hand and saying, ‘We’ll think about it when
there are fewer challenges with the kids".
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine were killed in the attack last JulyArticle continues below It has emerged since his conviction that despite
repeated warnings about his growing obsession with extreme violence as early as 2019, the Prevent counter-extremism scheme concluded Rudakubana posed no threat, allowing him to remain
unsupervised. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has called for “urgent reforms” following the missed opportunities to act in Rudakubana’s case.
On Monday, Downing Street confirmed it is engaging with the families of the Southport attack victims ahead of a review into the Prevent scheme's dealings with Axel Rudakubana. Asked whether
the review will be published this week, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday: "You'll recognise that the families of the victims of the terrible attack have a significant
amount to absorb after such a traumatic week.
"We're fully committed to publishing the findings from the Prevent learning review as soon as possible, but we're taking time to engage with the families, to consider their views".