Image: Jihad Watch
An 18-year-old, accused of carrying out a fatal attack in Southport that claimed the lives of three children, now faces terrorism charges.
Following an extensive search of the suspect’s home, detectives report the discovery of a toxic substance and a document resembling a Jihad training manual. Among the items found were a PDF titled "Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al Qaeda Training Manual" and the poison ricin.
The suspect, Axel Rudakubana from Lancashire, is already charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in connection with a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in July, where he allegedly used a curved kitchen knife in a violent assault attended by many children.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police announced that the Crown Prosecution Service has authorized two additional charges against Rudakubana, who already faces multiple charges, including possession of a knife, all linked to the Hart Street incident on July 29, 2024.
The new charges stem from evidence found at Rudakubana’s residence during a complex investigation that has been ongoing since the attack. According to The Mirror, the added charges include production of a biological toxin, specifically ricin, under Section One of the Biological Weapons Act 1974, and possession of information likely to aid terrorism, referencing the Al Qaeda training manual under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Despite these charges, Counter Terrorism police have clarified that the Southport incident has not been classified as a “terrorist incident.” Authorities also confirmed there is no evidence that ricin exposure affected any victims, first responders, or members of the community.
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