A UK teen flagged for violent behavior in 2019 was not deemed a terrorism risk, but new scrutiny focuses on whether earlier help could have prevented a 2024 attack.

A 13-year-old boy, later identified as Axel Rudakubana, was referred to the UK’s Prevent programme in 2019 after exhibiting violent behavior, including bringing knives to school and making disturbing remarks, but was not classified as a terrorism risk. Officials concluded his actions stemmed from personal grievances, not ideology, and the case was closed. A police sergeant involved said she would have referred him to the Channel support programme if she had known about his online searches for violent content. The ongoing Southport Inquiry is examining whether earlier intervention could have prevented the 2024 attack that killed three children and injured ten others.