Home Secretary 'would have been told about ricin discovery'

Ministers are likely to have been told 'within hours' that ricin had been found in the home of the Southport 'killer', experts said today amid continuing claims of a 'cover up'. 

Counter terrorism and biological weapons experts said that confirmation the toxin had been discovered would have been briefed to ministers due to fears about its potential use by terrorists. 

Police revealed on Tuesday that Axel Rudakubana, the 18-year-old suspect in the Southport stabbing, has been charged with producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing information about an al Qaeda training manual.

In response, both Conservative leadership candidates said the Government had questions to answer about the disclosure amid claims the information had been kept from the public. 

Number 10 has insisted it is 'not correct' to say ministers had withheld facts and it was the role of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to 'speak for their investigations and charging decisions'. 

On Wednesday it emerged that senior government law officers knew 'weeks ago' of the possibility that Rudakubana could face new charges under the Biological Weapons Act. 

Meanwhile, Downing Street has refused to say if and when ministers - including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper - were informed about the discovery of the ricin and the military study of a terrorist training manual, a former counter-terror officer today insisted this would have happened 'right away'. 

'It would go to the top right away and should do so. I cannot see why it would not get fed into the Home Office the same day that they found it,' they told the Telegraph. 

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'That's definitely what would happen. You cannot find ricin with a suspect that you are already investigating for triple murder and not tell the Home Office.'

The source, who was not named, reportedly said the information would have been passed to the counter-terrorism police in the north west who would have informed Matt Jukes, chief of UK counter-terrorism police, who would have then told the Home Office. 

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army Colonel who commanded the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Regiment, agreed that the information about ricin would have been quickly passed to ministers. 

'Once a biological chemical weapon has been identified – a bit like Novichok at the Salisbury event – then that would have been whacked up the chain of command very quickly,' he said.

Ms Cooper has urged the public not to speculate on the case in order to ensure the victims' families get justice.

Rudakubana is already charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Hart Street, Southport, on July 29, as well as the attempted murder of eight other children, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, and possession of a knife.

Downing Street insisted the timing of the latest charging announcement was purely a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

But Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said he was concerned facts may have been withheld from the public.

He said: 'Any suggestion of a cover-up will permanently damage public trust in whether we're being told the truth about crime in our country.

'Keir Starmer must urgently explain to the country what he knew about the Southport attack and when he learned it.

'Across the board the hard reality of mass migration is being covered up. We need the truth – and we need to change.'

His Tory rival Kemi Badenoch said there were 'serious questions to be asked of the police, the CPS and also of Keir Starmer's response to the whole situation'.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she added: 'Parliament is the right place for this to happen.

'While we must abide by the rules of contempt of court and not prejudice this case, it is important that there is appropriate scrutiny.'

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, meanwhile claimed he had been calling on the authorities to reveal more details about the case to 'stop the online speculation'.

Downing Street denied the Government had been involved in the timing of the charging announcement.

A spokeswoman said: 'No, charging decisions and when those are made are for the CPS.'

Ms Cooper meanwhile warned against speculating about the case, adding: 'The most important thing is to get justice for Bebe, Alice and Elsie and their heartbroken families, and all those affected by the attack, and nobody should put that at risk.'

The latest charges came after searches of Rudakubana's home in Banks, Lancashire, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The alleged terror offence relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual.

Searches were carried out in the days after the attack, although it was not confirmed when the ricin was found.

According to the charges, authorised by the CPS on Tuesday, the toxin was produced on or before July 29, and Rudakubana was charged with possessing the document between August 29 2021 and July 30 2024.

Rudakubana is alleged to have entered the school holiday dance class at a small business park in Southport shortly before midday on July 29.

The day after the attack, thousands of people turned out for a peaceful vigil in the town but later a separate protest erupted into violence outside a mosque in the town.

In the following week, protests took place in dozens of towns and cities across the country and descended into violence and rioting, with asylum centre hotels in particular targeted.

More than 1,000 arrests have since been made and hundreds of people have been charged and jailed.

A provisional trial date for Rudakubana has been set for January next year.