Government officials recently became aware of potential new charges against the suspect in the Southport murders, according to reports from the BBC. A representative of the prime minister stated that claims regarding government involvement in withholding information from the public were “not correct.” This statement follows comments from the two Conservative leadership candidates, who have called for clarity regarding the new charges.

Eighteen-year-old Axel Rudakubana is accused of murdering three young girls in Southport last July. He now faces additional charges, including one related to the Terrorism Act. Specifically, he is charged with producing a biological toxin, violating the Biological Weapons Act of 1974. Additionally, he has been charged with possessing a document that could assist someone in committing or preparing for a terrorist act, under the Terrorism Act of 2000.

Previously, Rudakubana had been charged with the murders of three girls and had ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a knife against him. For charges under the Biological Weapons Act to be filed, consent must be obtained from government law officials like the attorney general or solicitor general. Reports indicate that consent was sought in recent weeks and granted shortly thereafter.

Rudakubana was scheduled for a pre-trial preparation hearing in Liverpool on October 25; however, this hearing was postponed so that all charges could be addressed at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 30. A government spokesperson emphasized that decisions regarding charges fall under the authority of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The timing and nature of these new charges have prompted reactions from Conservative leadership candidates. Robert Jenrick raised concerns about possible concealment of information from the public, pointing out discrepancies in earlier statements asserting that the incident was not terror-related. He questioned why details regarding Rudakubana’s alleged connections to extremist materials were not disclosed sooner.

Kemi Badenoch also indicated that there are serious questions regarding police actions and responses from public figures like Keir Starmer but did not specify what these inquiries entailed. The police have stated that they have not been withholding information from the public, as it is uncommon to disclose details during an ongoing investigation.

The CPS has explained that bringing forth these charges has been a lengthy process due to the complexity of the case. It is important to note that these new charges do not classify the Southport attacks as terrorist acts; rather, they pertain to separate offenses related to possessing documents useful for such acts. Authorities are urging caution against speculation as it may affect ongoing legal proceedings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed concern about how these additional charges might impact those affected by the tragedy in Southport and reaffirmed a commitment to justice for the victims and their families.