Teen Idolises Southport Killer, Plans Chilling Copycat Knife Attack
Obsessed with Axe Killer Axel Rudakubana
A 17-year-old lad obsessed with Southport’s triple knife murderer has been handed a three-year youth rehab order after admitting terror offences.
The teen, just 16 when his obsession began, idolised Axel Rudakubana to a disturbing degree. Calling himself an “Axelcel,” he wrote notes praising Rudakubana as “the black version of me” and “the one person I look up to.”
Dark Downloads and Incel Fixations
The boy downloaded the very same al-Qaeda manual Rudakubana used. He hoarded extremist guides like the Anarchist Cookbook and recipes for deadly poisons such as ricin. His searches included school shootings and incel misogyny, even targeting his old school as a potential attack site.
Southport Recon & TikTok Threat
On 13 May last year, he travelled 15 miles to Southport to scout the area, snapping photos. He messaged a TikTok contact: “77 days until Axel 2.” His chilling target was a Taylor Swift event marking the first anniversary of Rudakubana’s rampage – the attack that claimed three young children.
Plans Thwarted by 999 Call
The terrifying plot was uncovered when the teen called 999 himself from his grandparents’ bathroom on 6 August. Police found knives stolen from the kitchen. His devices contained poems praising Rudakubana and notes on “Axelcels” and incel culture.
He wasn’t charged with preparing a terrorist act, as prosecutors said no clear ideological motive emerged. His young age and background influenced the decision, especially since misogynistic and school attacks aren’t officially classified as ideological terror under current laws.
Mental Health Struggles and Missed Warnings
Court heard the teen, believed to have autism like Rudakubana, was in care and under mental health services. He had twice been referred to the Government’s Prevent counter-terror programme – but no earlier intervention stopped his deadly plans.
Shockingly, Rudakubana himself had been flagged by Prevent three times before his horrific attack but managed to slip through the cracks every time.
