Keir Starmer's chilling 'new threat' warning to UK after Southport stabbings

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that Britain is grappling with a "new threat" following the Southport stabbings, during an urgent press conference at Downing Street. Describing the "barbaric" murder of three young girls last summer as a "devastating moment" in the nation's history, he pledged to address "grave questions" regarding the state's failure to protect the children.

He starkly stated that "terrorism has changed" within the UK, shifting from threats primarily posed by organised groups with explicit political motives, such as Al Qaeda, to isolated individuals, including "loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms" who seek infamy through online content. Starmer committed to overhauling the "counter-extremist system" and examining potential changes to terrorism legislation.

Additionally, he condemned social media companies for allowing easy access to a "tidal wave of violence" on their platforms.

The PM recently refused to commit to the final £6m of funding for the Tyne Bridge

The Prime Minister honoured the memory of Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged 9, Bebe King, aged 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged 7, victims of a vicious assault during a Taylor Swift-themed class on July 29. Acknowledging the "unimaginable grief" of their families, he assured them that they deserve answers.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood were present to witness Starmer's address from the front row at Downing Street.

Axel Rudakubana, the man who brutally murdered three young girls, pleaded guilty to his heinous crimes yesterday. Following his admission of guilt and the lifting of legal restrictions, it was revealed that Rudakubana had been referred to the government's anti-radicalisation programme, Prevent, three times between December 2019 and April 2021 when he was just 13 and 14 years old.

His first referral came after he was found viewing material related to US school shootings. Despite being in contact with several agencies including the police, courts, Youth Justice system, social services and mental health services, none identified the significant threat he posed.

The Prime Minister criticised the ease with which violent content can be accessed on "mainstream social media platforms", questioning: "How do we protect our children from the tidal wave of violence available online? " On Monday, Mr Starmer acknowledged that "there are grave questions to answer as to how the state failed in its ultimate duty to protect these young girls". The PM further stated: "Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a public inquiry into the Southport stabbings to investigate how state agencies "failed" the victims, stating the investigation aims to "get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change".

The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, raised concerns about handling individuals obsessed with violence but not ideologically driven. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning, Hall KC remarked: "Prevent will look at individuals who come across their radar, and then counter-terrorism police will be asking themselves, 'is this the sort of person who we ought to help, given our terrorism remit?"

He elaborated further, stating "You'll sometimes get cases where counter-terrorism police will say, 'ultimately, we just don't think we can say this guy's on the trajectory to becoming a terrorist, and so he's not for us'. The question is, who do they then hand the risk over to? And it's not as if you've got lots of other specialist police forces who are there to deal with ultra-violent obsessed people... it doesn't seem to me a problem for neighbourhood policing, for example."