In a sombre and impassioned statement delivered today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the nation on the findings of the Southport public inquiry, following the brutal murders of three young girls last summer.
Starmer described the killings as a “senseless, barbaric” act and committed to making Southport a “line in the sand” for Britain’s approach to security and justice.
Starmer highlighted that the murders marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s understanding of terrorism, noting that Britain faces a “new threat” distinct from traditional organised terror groups like Al-Qaeda. He said the growing prevalence of “loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms” driven by extreme online content underscores the evolving nature of terrorism.
“The extreme nature of the violence, the meticulous planning, and the targeting of children in a place of joy and safety clearly intended to terrorise,” he stated, adding, “If the law needs to change to recognise this new and dangerous threat, then we will change it – and quickly.”
The Prime Minister expressed frustration at systemic failures, citing that the perpetrator had been referred to the Prevent programme three times but failed to meet the threshold for intervention.
He vowed to review the UK’s counter-extremism measures, ensuring they are fit to tackle modern threats. “We can’t have a national security system that fails to tackle people who are a danger to our values, our security, our children,” he said.
Starmer also addressed the online platforms enabling access to extreme content, calling it unacceptable that “with just a few clicks, people can watch video after horrific video.” He committed to reviewing legislation governing online content to better protect vulnerable individuals and prevent radicalisation.
The Prime Minister promised transparency and accountability throughout the public inquiry, stating, “We will leave no stone unturned… If any shortcomings are holding back the ability of this country to keep its citizens and children safe, I will find them and root them out.”
Reflecting on his past as a prosecutor who exposed institutional failures, he pledged to apply the same tenacity to addressing the systemic issues raised by the Southport tragedy.
Starmer closed his remarks with a call for national unity and a commitment to action. “This time, it will be different. Southport will be a line in the sand. We will honour those three little girls and deliver, not just justice, but the change that the people and families of Southport deserve.”
I’m not sure you can class this as a new type of terrorism, this was a profoundly unwell/evil person who simple wanted to hurt and kill people. No difference from all the other sick killer, these individuals simply pop up…you take a psychopath and manage them badly and this is what occurs…it’s regular as clockwork I’m afraid. Sadly in this case all the signs were in place, his parents were terrified of him and what he was going to do and constantly contacted the police..he was referred to prevent 3 times…but it did fuck all good, because he was not a terrorist or had an ideology he was just profoundly sick and wanted to hurt and kill people…he should have been in identified assessed and popped in a secure forensic psychiatric unit for the rest of his life.
Sorry but if you are planning a ricin attack you are a terrorist.
Unfortunately as we are now not getting a trial we will never know the full details and motivations.
There is more to this someone with a mental health problem.
Nope…terrorists have to have an ideological, political aim for it to be terrorism…many nutters have undertaken mass killings for no other reasons than they want to..they are not terrorists they are sick or evil individuals…it’s not the method of killing that defines terrorism…knife, gun, bomb, poison it’s the reason…a man who drives a car into a crowed because he simply wants to wants to kill people is not a terrorist a man who drives a car into a crowed because he has a specific political view that he is promoting through driving the car into the crowed is a terrorist..
It’s not the means that define it’s the reason.
Given Starmers background this is a bit rich really. Not is it terrorism. It’s the incompetence of the services that let the man roam.
It’s not terrorism. It’s a man who’s very mentally ill who should have been referred for urgent mental health treatment a long time ago. Now he needs to be put into a secure mental health facility, either for life or until he can be cured and brought back to normal to the point he’s no threat to anyone.
Chances are, it’ll need to be for life.
Sadly Steve you really don’t ever cure that, you can manage the risk, but if you let a person like that live in the community there is always a realistic risk they will murder a few people..happens all the time, reviewed and investigated loads of such cases… not quite as high profile, as the victims are usually people they know or who are related to them and it’s not highly reported.
The only thing you can do to removed the risk is to remove them from society, unless in a profoundly well controlled situation…
“Never let a crisis go to waste”
With this you can be sure he will want more and more power for the state, expect more and more spy power and internet control.
But i suspect Marxist ideology and Communist manifesto will be easily accessible and significant teaching in British Universities…
That’s a bit dark Alex, positive thoughts mate positive thoughts….personally I think it’s just deflecting from the fact that our forensics mental health services are a joke and our wider community mental health services that actually pick up the people who need forensic mental health services is an even bigger joke.
Terror definition: an intense overpowering fear. What has happened here is that fear, resentment and rejection have been allowed to take root and grow in a young, vulnerable, isolated adolescent mind. In earlier times Axel would likely have been safeguarded by joining the Scouts, attending Sunday school, membership of the local rugby club; he would have been exposed to creative, formative influences; self respect, friendship, resilience, a sense of belonging, the importance of grace under pressure. Instead he was left to be moulded and fed evil examples by the internet and social media until it overwhelmed him and he became unhinged. They say you are what you eat – this is even more true when applied to emotions. I’m sorry but the Prevent Program’s criteria that a potential terrorist must have an ‘ideology’ is complete boll&&x. Gang warfare, misogyny and terrorism don’t happen by accident. What has gone wrong here is the neglect in the formation of a young mind and heart.
When Southport first happened, nothing to see here, not terrorism.
Now it is.
I’d have liked him to comment on the Chatham Soldier stabbed umpteen times, that was nicely swept under the carpet and of course has nothing to do with terrorism or radical Islam attacking westerners.