Families raise alarm after transfer of Southport killer to high-security hospital
Axel Rudakubana, the 19-year-old convicted of murdering three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been moved from prison to the psychiatric hospital Broadmoor, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. The transfer has been disclosed to bereaved families by letter and has prompted concern that the timing – close to the second anniversary of the attack – could be intended to cause further distress.
Rudakubana was given a life sentence for the killings of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and for the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults. His overall sentence includes a minimum term of 52 years, the government has stressed that the transfer does not change that tariff.
What the families’ lawyer says
Chris Walker, who represents the three bereaved families, told BBC Breakfast he believed Rudakubana was attempting to "retraumatise the families from his cell" and warned that this could become a recurring pattern around anniversaries. He said the families received a letter on 22 July informing them of the move but were not given reasons for the transfer.
“It’s a deep concern of mine that this is a pattern starting to develop by him trying to retraumatise the families from his cell, and it’s a deep concern that this is going to occur every anniversary.” — Chris Walker
Walker also pointed to previous incidents while Rudakubana was at HMP Belmarsh, notably an episode in May 2025 when he used a kettle in his cell to pour boiling water over a prison officer. He argued there was "no suggestion" Rudakubana was in a state of psychosis when he carried out the murders, and said the lack of detailed explanation for the transfer left a worrying vacuum of information.
Government response and assurances
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed the transfer to Broadmoor and reiterated it does not alter the substance of the youngster’s sentence. Sally Jameson, a junior housing minister and former prison officer, said on Friday that Rudakubana would be returned to prison "as soon as possible" but stated she was not familiar with the reasons for the transfer.
- Victims: Alice da Silva Aguiar (9), Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7)
- Perpetrator: Axel Rudakubana, aged 19
- Sentence: Life with a 52-year minimum term
- Notable prison incident: May 2025 kettle attack on an officer at HMP Belmarsh
- Families informed: Letter dated 22 July 2026
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 29 July 2024 | Attack at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport |
| May 2025 | Incident at HMP Belmarsh where Rudakubana poured boiling water over an officer |
| 22 July 2026 | Families informed by letter about transfer |
| July 2026 | Ministry of Justice confirms transfer to Broadmoor Hospital |
The move has prompted calls for clearer communication from the authorities to the victims’ families. Their legal representative said the timing – the transfer being confirmed shortly before the second anniversary of the killings on 29 July – felt suspicious to them, and risked reopening wounds at a time when they are preparing to mark that date.
Local residents and campaign groups who have followed the case closely will be watching for further information from the Ministry of Justice and the prison service on the clinical and security reasons for the transfer, and for confirmation of when and how Rudakubana will be returned to a custodial setting.
As the anniversary approaches, people across Southport and the wider Merseyside area have continued to express solidarity with the victims’ families and to call for transparency from the authorities handling the case.
