Nigel Farage has accused the government of a “cover-up” after new details emerged about Axel Rudakvana.
This comes after the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering three girls in the Southport attack last summer.
In the aftermath of the attack, various rumors and claims about the attacker circulated online, but perhaps the most notable was that he was an asylum seeker who arrived in a small boat.
What followed was the worst riot Britain had seen in years.
What did we learn today?
After Rudakbana’s guilty plea, it was revealed that he had been sent to the government’s anti-terrorism program Prevent three times.
He also had contact with police, courts, the youth justice system, social services and mental health services.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the public inquiry, saying it had “failed to identify the appalling risk and danger he posed to others”.
Why hasn’t this come out before?
As in any other court case, authorities and the media have an obligation not to publish information that could undermine the outcome of the case.
Mr Cooper said the Crown Prosecution Service had made it clear that details could not be made public to avoid jeopardizing the proceedings “in accordance with the normal rules of the British justice system”.
There is no need for a trial as the attacker has pleaded guilty, and a verdict will be handed down on Thursday.
Nick Price, head of legal affairs at the CPS, said that time would reveal “the full details of this incident”.
“We recognize the deep interest in these cases and it is important that the prosecution case is brought before the court and the facts that may affect the sentence rendered are determined.” he said.
So, is there no “concealment”?
Indeed, the CPS and the Home Secretary have been adamant that there have been “constraints” on what the government can say.
But she revealed that the Home Office commissioned an urgent review of Prevent immediately after the attack.
Further details will be released soon.
No timetable has yet been given for a public inquiry.
