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Europe July 31, 2026

Axel Rudakubana Charged in Fatal Belmarsh Prison Attack

Axel Rudakubana Charged in Fatal Belmarsh Prison Attack

Axel Rudakubana, a suspect charged with multiple crimes, appeared in court via videolink during a preparatory hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

Rudakubana has been charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, on May 6 and October 28, as well as attempted GBH on May 8 and unauthorised possession of a weapon in prison on June 26.

These charges stem from incidents that occurred last year.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook dated 18/12/24 of of Axel Rudakubana, 18, appearing via videolink during a preparatory hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. (Photo: PA Wire)

A three-minute silence was held in Southport on Wednesday to remember victims and survivors of the attack linked to Rudakubana.

Lawyers for the families of the children murdered by Rudakubana have accused him of trying to 'retraumatise' them from his prison cell and of exploiting the system by being moved to Broadmoor.

Chris Walker expressed concern, stating, 'It's a deep concern of mine that this is a pattern starting to develop by him trying to retraumatise the families from his cell, and it's a deep concern that this is going to occur every anniversary.'

Undated handout file photo originally issued on 30/07/24 by Merseyside Police of (left to right) Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar. The findings of the inquiry into the knife attack by Axel Rudakubana who murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29, 2024, is due to released on Monday. Issue date: Monday April 13, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Offenders who pose a heightened risk and cannot be managed in a prison environment due to mental disorders may be transferred to secure psychiatric units.

In these units, individuals are treated as patients rather than prisoners.

Broadmoor, located in Berkshire, is the oldest of the UK's three high-security hospitals and has held notable inmates, including Ronnie Kray and serial killer Peter Sutcliffe.

Under the Mental Health Act, officials have no choice but to accept clinical professionals' advice regarding the transfer of prisoners to a secure facility.

An offender in a secure hospital is compelled to participate in treatment and undertake therapies before returning to prison or release into the community.

The Act also allows for a swift return to prison if an offender no longer requires treatment in hospital.

A public inquiry into the attack found that it 'could and should have been prevented' if agencies and Rudakubana's parents had taken necessary steps.

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