An investigation is being called for by the Southport inquiry report into an online company that sold a machete to Axel Rudakubana. The report criticized the Hunting and Knives site for promoting knives in a manner deemed inappropriate and irresponsible, with references to their use as weapons and for combat purposes.
Rudakubana, using a fake identity, purchased a Congo Kukri machete from the website in October 2023, bypassing age verification protocols described as weak by inquiry chairman Sir Adrian Fulford. The company failed to ensure age checks upon delivery of the machete, as required by law, leading to concerns raised in the inquiry about potential criminal offenses.
In a tragic incident on July 29, 2024, Rudakubana, then 17 years old, fatally stabbed three children at a Taylor Swift themed dance class using a knife bought from Amazon. Sir Adrian’s report highlighted the lack of scrutiny on online marketing of knives and machetes and emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws in this regard.
The report outlined systemic failures that could have prevented the attack, attributing it to foreseeable and avoidable circumstances. Sir Adrian stressed the importance of understanding the events leading to the tragedy and implementing necessary changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Among the recommendations made was the revision of procedures for purchasing weapons, especially online and by minors. The report also mentioned how the killer was able to order knives from Amazon by providing false age verification details, underscoring the need for improved verification processes to prevent underage purchases.
While acknowledging recent improvements, Sir Adrian expressed his concern that it took a tragic event for certain platforms to enhance their processes to prevent the delivery of lethal weapons to minors. He emphasized the importance of addressing deficiencies promptly to avoid future tragedies like the one at the Hart Space in July 2024.
