Southport Inquiry to examine role of social media

The second phase of the Southport Inquiry, which is due to open later, is expected to examine the role of the internet and social media in influencing "violence fixated individuals".

The effectiveness of current laws and the regulation of the sale of knives will also come under scrutiny during the hearings.

The public inquiry was set up after the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar and knife attacks on 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.

After Phase One, Inquiry Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford found "catastrophic" failures by various agencies and said the attacks could have been prevented

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 52 years, for the murders and attempted murders.

Sir Adrian released a report in April following nine weeks of hearings during the first phase of the inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall.

He concluded Rudakubana had "clearly revealed" he was an extreme danger and his attack "could and should have been prevented" if his parents had "done what they morally ought to have done", or if appropriate arrangements had been put in place by agencies to address his risk.

In his 763-page report, setting out 67 recommendations, Sir Adrian said there was a "fundamental failure" by any organisation, or multi-agency arrangement, to take ownership of the risk Rudakubana posed.

Last week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood gave the government's formal response to the inquiry, accepting the report's recommendations and promising to do "whatever is needed to protect the public".

But families of the girls and other survivors said they needed to see more evidence of action and that no-one had lost their jobs over the failures.

Sir Adrian will formally open phase two of the inquiry at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London before a break until 8 September.

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