Father of UK's Southport Killer Reveals Son's Violent History and Death Threats Before Fatal Stabbing Attack

The brutal knife attack carried out by Axel Rudakubana sparked the most severe riots Britain has witnessed in recent decades.

United Kingdom:

During a UK inquiry on Wednesday, the father of a teenager who fatally stabbed three young girls revealed that his "violent" son exhibited "random" outbursts and had previously threatened to end his life.

Axel Rudakubana received a life sentence in January for his deadly knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, last year, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls.

This horrific incident triggered the worst riots Britain has experienced in decades.

Speaking from an undisclosed location to the inquiry panel, Alphonse Rudakubana stated that his son, who was 17 when committing the crime, experienced violent "outbursts" that could occur twice daily.

"He used to beat me up," Rudakubana testified, describing one particular incident where his son poured oil over his head.

Rudakubana recounted his son's menacing threat: "If you get me out of here, this house, it may take a day, it may take a week, maybe a month, maybe years, I will kill you and trust me I will kill you."

Having fled Rwanda for Britain after surviving the 1994 genocide, Rudakubana noted that his son's behavior changed dramatically around 2019 when he was expelled from secondary school after admitting to carrying a knife.

He described how Axel had once been "a beautiful boy" when starting school, but added, "By the time they sent him back to us, he was broken, disappointed, traumatised, changed completely beyond belief."

Nevertheless, he acknowledged, "I bear my share of the responsibility."

Following his expulsion, Axel attended a pupil referral unit designed for children excluded from mainstream education.

A senior teacher from this facility previously informed the inquiry that during an initial meeting with Axel and his parents, the teenager admitted taking a knife to his previous school "to use it."

When questioned about the teacher's observation that neither parent appeared to react to this admission, Rudakubana responded, "We were anguished when he said that."

He clarified, "Whatever we did or how we dealt with him, it was on the way back home," adding that "we were shocked and ashamed."

In his statement, Rudakubana described how his son abused and assaulted him, often leaving him uncertain how to respond.

He explained that attempts to enforce discipline frequently triggered escalation.

"I tried before and he was violent," he stated when asked why he hadn't made greater efforts to assert authority.

Rudakubana testified that he or his wife reported some violent incidents to authorities, including a mental health services team assigned to Axel.

However, he admitted not reporting all incidents out of fear that his son might be removed from their care.

He characterized December 2019 referrals to the government's anti-terror program, Prevent, by the pupil referral unit as "malicious."

By that point, however, Rudakubana acknowledged he had "lost control" of his son, including over his online activities.

"I had no authority as a father," Rudakubana confessed.

The inquiry, which possesses legal powers to compel witness testimony, is being chaired by a retired senior judge.

While its recommendations are not legally binding, they will likely influence future policy decisions.