Rumours that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was attacked in prison today have been debunked by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The 18-year-old was sentenced to 52 years in prison and is currently in HMP Belmarsh after stabbing three young girls to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
A WhatsApp message claiming that Rudakubana has been beaten by two brothers serving life sentences at the prison went viral on social media but has since been exposed as fake.
An MoJ spokesperson told The Sun: “I can confirm that reports of Axel Rudakubana being attacked in prison are inaccurate. He has not been attacked.”
Last July, the teenager murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and attempted the murder of others at the dance class.
The Sun also claimed Rudakubana will be “target number one” for prison attacks, according to Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association.
This means Rudakubana is likely being isolated in a segregation unit for his own protection but will have the same rights as everyone else, such as showers and phone calls, Mr Fairhurst said.
He said: “If there was any intelligence he was at risk then he would be put in the segregation unit under isolation or to some other part of the prison where he is away from everyone else.”
“His life will be absolute hell. He is target number one. He’ll be looking over his shoulders for the next 52 years. Any chance they can get him they will.”
The teenager, who was 17 when he committed the stabbings, is expected to remain at Category A Belmarsh until he’s assessed, after which he could be sent to another high-security prison.
Rudakubana is currently on suicide watch after being handed down 52 years and will likely have officers with him at all times when he leaves his cell to ensure every prisoner’s safety.
A public enquiry has been launched in response to the horrific Southport attack, during which “no stone should be left unturned”, Rachel Reeves said.
The Chancellor also called for social media companies to exercise their moral responsibility to remove harmful content after it was discovered that Rudakubana watched footage of a knife attack in Australia and downloaded an Al Qaeda training manual.
