Archive · 6 Nov 2025
Southport Attacker’s Father Expresses Fear and Regret Over Son’s Actions
The father of a teenager who fatally stabbed three girls in England spoke at an investigation about what happened.
He explained he was very afraid of his son and didn't check his internet or activities, which he now deeply regrets.
His son had been looking at violent things online and collecting weapons.
The father feels partly responsible but also thinks schools unfairly reported his son to a government program meant to stop extremism.
Right before the attack, the family found packaging for knives but didn't call the police.
The father also shared that his son had threatened to kill him in the past.
The teenager had a history of violence, including carrying knives and expressing a desire to kill.
The police are still trying to understand why the attack happened, and they do not believe it was terrorism.
The father of Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana testified at an inquiry, expressing extreme fear of his son and regret over his own inaction.
Alphonse Rudakubana admitted his failure to monitor his son's activities and internet use had 'catastrophic consequences' for which he is 'desperately sorry'.
Axel Rudakubana had a history of stockpiling weapons and searching for violent material online, and had previously threatened to kill his father.
The father accused schools of making 'malicious' referrals to the PREVENT counter-terrorism scheme and felt they unfairly targeted his son.
Moments before the attack, the family discovered knife packaging but did not contact the police; the father had also prevented his son from returning to a former school where an attack may have been planned.
- Who
- Alphonse Rudakubana, the father of Axel Rudakubana, the attacker
- What
- Testified at an inquiry, detailing his fear of his son, his own perceived role in the events due to inaction, and his son's history of violence and online activity.
- When
- Testimony provided during an ongoing inquiry in 2024.
- Where
- An inquiry into the Southport stabbing tragedy, with testimony given via video link.
- Why
- To provide evidence and account for his actions and inactions related to his son's violent behavior leading up to the attack.
Alphonse Rudakubana's Account
Inquiry Findings/Other Accounts
Parental Involvement and Fear
Alphonse Rudakubana's Account
Alphonse Rudakubana stated he was 'very scared' of his son and avoided confrontation, leading to a failure to monitor his son's activities and internet use, which he deeply regrets.
Inquiry Findings/Other Accounts
Despite finding knife packaging shortly before the attack and knowing of his son's violent history and desire to kill, parents did not alert the police. Alphonse also prevented his son from returning to a former school where another attack might have been planned.
Referrals to Prevent Program
Alphonse Rudakubana's Account
Alphonse Rudakubana accused schools of unfairly targeting his son with 'malicious' referrals to the PREVENT counter-terrorism scheme.
Inquiry Findings/Other Accounts
The inquiry heard about referrals to the PREVENT program, indicating official concerns about Axel Rudakubana's behavior, though the specific nature and intent of these referrals are part of the inquiry's investigation.
Concerns about Son's Behavior
Alphonse Rudakubana's Account
Alphonse described his son's behavior as 'very frightening' and recalled an incident where Axel threatened to kill him, stating he had 'lost control of him.'
Inquiry Findings/Other Accounts
Axel's brother, Dion Rudakubana, expressed surprise and fear when Axel left home alone for the first time in over two years, noting Axel had been accumulating parcels he suspected contained weapons, but his concerns were dismissed by parents.
- Attacker's Name
- Axel Rudakubana
- Father's Name
- Alphonse Rudakubana
- Event
- Stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club
- Victims
- Three young girls
- Injured Others
- Ten
- Attacker's Age at Time of Attack
- 17
- Date of Attack
- July 2024
