Government aware of new Southport charges in past few weeks

The most senior figures in authorities first grew to become aware of the chance of new charges towards the suspect in the Southport murders in the past few weeks, the BBC has been advised.

A spokesperson for the prime minister mentioned it was “not correct” to say the federal government had been concerned in withholding info from the general public.

It comes after the 2 candidates for the Conservative management mentioned the federal government had inquiries to reply in regards to the new charges.

Axel Rudakubana, 18 – who’s accused of murdering three younger ladies in Southport in July – is going through two additional charges, together with one below the terrorism act.

He has charged with manufacturing of a organic toxin opposite to Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974.

He has additionally been charged with possessing a PDF doc of a form more likely to be helpful to an individual committing to or getting ready an act of terrorism, opposite to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The teenager had already been charged with the murders of three ladies killed in Southport, in addition to 10 counts of tried homicide and possession of a knife.

To cost somebody below the Biological Weapons Act, the Crown Prosecution Service has to acquire consent from the federal government’s legislation officers – the lawyer common or solicitor common.

The BBC has been advised that in this case, consent was requested in latest weeks, and granted “within days”.

The teenager had been due in courtroom in Liverpool for a pre-trial preparation listening to final Friday, 25 October.

That was postponed in order for all of the charges to be handled collectively at Westminster Magistrates Court, the place he’ll seem on Wednesday 30 October.

The charging resolution and its timing have been a matter for the CPS, a authorities spokesperson added.

It comes after the 2 candidates for the Conservative management raised questions in regards to the new charges.

Robert Jenrick urged that data was being “concealed” from the general public.

“We have been advised for months that this was not a terror-related incident, and but we have now learnt that this particular person, the suspect, was allegedly studying al-Qaeda manuals and had entry to harmful substances like ricin,” he mentioned.

“Given the size of public curiosity, I feel it is a crucial query to be requested, why was this data not put into the general public area sooner? So I’m asking the general public authorities and the prime minister, what did they know, when did they study it, and why was the choice taken to not be extra trustworthy and clear with the general public.”

Meanwhile Kemi Badenoch has suggested there are “critical inquiries to be requested of the police, the CPS and in addition of Keir Starmer’s response”.

She has not elaborated on what those questions are, suggesting they should be asked in Parliament.

The police say it is “definitely not the case” that they have been keeping things from the public. It would be highly unusual for them to release details of a live police investigation.

The CPS suggest it has taken time to bring the charges because this was a “prolonged and sophisticated investigation”.

The new charges do not mean the Southport attacks are being treated as a terrorist incident.

Possessing a document that could be useful in preparing an act of terrorism is an entirely separate offence.

To be labelled as terrorism, the attack would have to be an attempt to advance a political, religious, racial or ideological cause. But it is not clear what possible motivation there might have been.

Authorities are urging people not to speculate, as it could jeopardise the entire court case.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “These further charges will undoubtedly be distressing for individuals in Southport.

“The most important thing is to get justice for Bebe, Alice and Elsie and their heartbroken families, and all those affected by the attack and nobody should put that at risk.

“The police and prosecutors have an necessary job to do in their investigation, pursuing each avenue and taking the motion they should forward of the trial.

“We must support them and ensure that everything possible is done to deliver justice.”