The boy described Axel Rudakubana as a ‘hero’ and mentioned, ‘I like him’.
The teenager had an ‘obsession’ with Southport killer Axel Rudakubana (pictured) (Picture: Merseyside Police)
A youngster who had an “obsession” with Southport killer Axel Rudakubana and needed to hold out a copycat assault has prevented a custodial sentence. The boy, now 17, who can’t be named due to his age, rang 999 in August final 12 months and mentioned he needed to “re-enact Axel”.
He had 4 knives and acquired a inexperienced hoodie much like one worn by Rudakubana, Liverpool Crown Courtroom heard on Thursday (March 5). The youth pleaded responsible earlier this 12 months to 4 counts of possessing data prone to be helpful to an individual planning or committing an act of terrorism.
Paperwork discovered on his cellphone included an Al Qaeda coaching handbook, a duplicate of which Rudakubana additionally possessed, and directions for making ready ricin, the poison discovered within the Southport killer’s house after his assault.
Choose Neil Flewitt KC informed the court docket it had been a “troublesome determination” as he sentenced the boy to a youth rehabilitation order which can final three years and supply “intensive supervision and surveillance”. He was additionally made topic to a three-year prison behaviour order.
Mr Flewitt mentioned: “I believe {that a} youth rehabilitation order will likely be extra useful to you and can present extra safety for the general public than preserving you in custody.”
The court docket was informed the defendant, from Merseyside, described himself as an “axelcel” – a reference to the time period incel, or involuntary celibate, and Rudakubana, who murdered three women in a knife assault on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, 2024.
Bethan David, from the Crown Prosecution Service, mentioned: “This was a deeply regarding case involving a teen who had been drawn in direction of excessive and violent ideology, with the potential for very critical hurt.”
A cost of constructing a menace to kill was ordered to lie on the file.
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