British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for "fundamental change" in securing citizens' safety following the killing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. Starmer said the government needs to answer "tough questions" about how the warning signs about Axel Rudakubana, the 18-year-old assailant, were disregarded. An inquiry will probe the failings that allowed him to attack, leaving three girls dead and injuring several others.
Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial, was flagged three times to the government's anti-extremism program, Prevent, but no effective action was taken. The incident further sparked anti-immigrant violence fueled by false reports that the attacker was a recent asylum seeker, when he was actually born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents.
In defending how details were managed post-attack, Starmer asserted there was "no conspiracy of silence," emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the trial and the victims' families. Questions are also being directed at law enforcement for not labeling the case as terrorism, especially given Rudakubana's possession of extremist materials. Starmer said the case could redefine how "terrorism has changed," suggesting that legal adaptations might be required to manage new threats of extreme violence from isolated individuals. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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