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One school staff member shared frustration over what she termed “frightening red tape” that hindered efforts to secure law enforcement, child welfare agencies, and mental health assistance for the individual responsible for the Southport attack, a government probe learned.

Aggression-focused the teenager was reported to have attacked students, attacked his own father, and was found in possession of weapons from 2019 and July 2024, when he murdered three children at a dance class.

However different agencies—among them Prevent, MI5, and child protection units—were seen to transfer responsibility back and forth, as revealed during proceedings.

The lead counsel, serving for Southport Inquiry, stated it would focus over the next phase on whether any bodies involved had “accepted accountability”.

It was noted this was “notable” that the teenager seemed to specifically chosen female victims at the time he selected to strike the Taylor Swift-themed dance session.

Nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and a third victim, aged six, were killed and additional minors along with two grown-ups were critically harmed.

The inquiry, conducted within an official venue, was established to explore the assailant’s past, his contact with concerned organizations and potential “oversights” to prevent what was called “blatantly and deeply reckless” attack.

Providing his opening statement, the barrister said the “red tape” email was sent by a safeguarding lead, an educator at Presfield High School, who endeavored to ensure the student to be present in education for around a year.

Mr Moss noted attempts by the institution “escalated significantly” on 21 March 2023 when the official wrote to another staff member explaining attempts to engage social services, child mental health teams and law enforcement to try and prompt action—to no avail.

The message included: “Short of forcing entry it is unclear what would access this student.”

Representatives said the first phase of the investigation is set to review on three “central themes”—whether agencies “accepted accountability or duty” for his case, if any party was assessing his “broader situation” of his risk, and what “systemic reform” could be necessary to ensure current procedures operate properly.

Counsel said the individual’s internet use and purchase of dangerous items—such as large knives and archery equipment—would also be of interest.

The inquiry heard early that day of the attack the assailant queried the website X for “an attack on a religious figure”—that showed a graphic video showing a religious leader being attacked in a church.

Representatives said even though much of his search history had been deleted, detectives discovered that he very recently viewed a document named “excerpt from suicide literature”.

An electronic device seized at his residence included downloads of material related to genocide, abuse and weapons, a picture of a historical figure and a depiction of a wolf dressed formally bearing the text: “Simply become a solitary figure bro”.

A particular file, which formed part of a terrorism charge Rudakubana confessed to, was a study of an Al-Qaeda Training Manual—but investigators additionally discovered “anti-Muslim” material.

Via a different electronic item detectives came across images of “deeply troubling” visuals such as graphic injuries, abuse, mistreatment of women and historical regimes.

‘No terrorist ideology’

Proceedings learned his conduct in education started to “deteriorate rapidly” onset of Year 9, aged 13.

Educators at the institution in Formby logged events including assaulting students, and commenting “that’s why educators are attacked” upon receiving a detention.

He was expelled from standard classes during the autumn of 2019 after admitting bringing a blade to the premises stating he “planned to harm another student”.

Later that year, he went back to the premises striking a pupil with a hockey stick while in possession of a blade on his person.

The outcome was him pleading guilty to harmful acts and carrying an offensive weapon.

Between 2019 to 2021, he was referred to the official Prevent program the initiative on multiple occasions by staff concerned at comments he had made, and online queries related to subjects such as “educational violence” and acts of terror.

However every time action was taken, even after an inter-departmental discussion with intelligence bodies, the referrals were closed by specialists because no “extremist views” was identified.

Counsel noted during that time, multiple units inside the council’s welfare division initiated and concluded cases with him.

Representatives said the family member, Mr Rudakubana, sought assistance from officials and therapeutic resources as his conduct became increasingly difficult to control.

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