X, Meta, Google, Tik Tok, Roblox and Snapchat asked for statements in Southport attack inquiry

Young people “must be diverted” from the thoughts and impulses that motivated Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, the chairman of the public inquiry into his attack has said.

The inquiry into the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 2024 opened a second phase on Wednesday, examining how to deal with individuals who pose a risk of extreme violence, but where ideology is not the primary driver, as well as the role of the internet and social media in influencing and enabling them.

In an opening statement, chairman Sir Adrian Fulford said he was “resolutely optimistic” that past failures and means of implementing real change could be identified.

He said: “More than anything else, young people must be diverted from the thoughts and impulses which motivated AR in July 2024. We are confronted with a growing challenge from violence-fixated individuals, who all too often are not acting out of an adherence to a particular ideology.

“Instead, the reasons for their interest in violence are various and, as a consequence, they can be extremely difficult to identify. All too often, they will be acting entirely alone, having spent endless hours in solitude, relentlessly, online.”

The inquiry, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the attack, in which Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed.

Sir Adrian added: “The victims and their families will be at the very centre of our work during phase two, not least because they have the right to expect that we remain – as I hope will be the case – unwaveringly focussed, efficient and effective in our work and that we identify, wherever they exist, the changes of substance that must be made as to how we address those who have a dangerous preoccupation with significant violence.”

Families of the victims were not in London for Wednesday’s hearing. The hearing was told during phase two that six other cases of violence-fixated individuals (VFIs) would be reviewed by experts to identify “thematic lessons”.

Counsel to the inquiry Nicholas Moss KC said: “Albeit exceptionally rare and grave in its outcome, we are conscious the Southport attack was one single and dreadful event. We want to consider whether the themes that emerge from other recent VFI-like cases will help focus our conclusions and recommendations for this second phase of the inquiry’s work.”

Two of the case studies are subject to anonymity orders and the remaining four were named once but will otherwise be referred to by cyphers. Sir Adrian said he wanted to “ask and encourage” the media not to name the individuals.

He said: “This request is not intended to limit reporting on the circumstances of those cases or the issues they raise. Rather, it is intended to reduce the risk of providing them with the notoriety they seek and to minimise the risk of imitation attacks.”

Mr Moss said 69 requests for witness statements had been made by the inquiry, including to a range of internet and social media service providers such as X, Meta, Google, Tik Tok, Roblox and Snapchat.

This phase of the inquiry will also examine policies and regulations in relation to the sale and possession of offensive weapons. Mr Moss said there were “urgent questions” about the marketing of knives online. Images of knives for sale with names including Kombat, Frenzy and Mayhem were shown to the inquiry.

Rudakubana, now 19, was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 52 years, for their murders and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.

In the first phase of the inquiry, Sir Adrian found the attack “could and should have been prevented” if public bodies had taken steps to stop Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, and if his parents had “done what they morally ought to have done”.

In his 763-page report, which set out 67 recommendations, he concluded there was a “fundamental failure” by any organisation, or multi-agency arrangement, to take ownership of the risk Rudakubana posed.

Last week, the Government accepted the recommendations of his report and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “We will do whatever is needed to protect the public.” But families of the girls and other survivors said they need to see more evidence of action and that no one had lost their jobs over the failures.

The inquiry will next sit on September 8.