Southport attacker's sibling feared he would take lives, inquiry learns

Axel Rudakubana fatally attacked three children at a dance class in 2024
Axel Rudakubana killed three kids at a Taylor Swift-themed dance lesson on July 29, 2024

The older brother of the Southport attacker revealed his parents "lost control" of their child and he feared his younger sibling would fatally harm a individual of their household, a hearing has heard.

The attacker, then 17, fatally attacked three kids at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on July 29, 2024.

The official investigation, sitting at the venue, learned the attacker's brother the older brother warned a acquaintance there was a risk of his relative "committing an act deadly."

The hearing was told he told his friend over the digital service: "The fights are scary because of the risk of loss of life."

He said his brother was similar to the psychopathic killer in the picture No Country For Old Men.

The brother last spoke to his sibling in that year
The hearing has been informed the brother last spoke to his brother in that year when the perpetrator hurled a object at him

Increasing Conflict

Proceedings heard Dion was identified with a medical condition at the twelve years old which resulted in him needing mobility assistance and his family providing increased care.

When asked by the inquiry counsel, legal representative, if that affected their bond he replied: "There was tension that came about."

He acknowledged his brother showed bitterness toward this shift.

He testified the hearing that after the household relocated from their previous home to the seaside town his sibling's temperament declined and he would have "aggressive episodes."

Proceedings heard he became "increasingly wary" of his sibling, who would hit him regularly.

He stated: "I needed to be careful if I did speak to him because each conflict could escalate into an altercation."

'Real worries'

Dion said his sibling became increasingly physical after he was expelled from Range High School in Formby, Merseyside, in autumn 2019.

Dion left for university in that year and the siblings communicated rarely "as he was unaccustomed to having me around."

The hearing was told about a communication he sent to a acquaintance on the service in which he stated his sibling was irritated with him talking during nighttime because of the poor insulation in their house.

He additionally informed his associate there was a risk of "his committing an act deadly."

He said: "The fights are terrifying because of the risk of someone dying."

Mr Boyle inquired: "You were genuinely concerned that your brother would kill a person of your household?"

Dion answered: "If things escalated to that level."

The three children lost their lives in the that day's incident
The victims lost their lives in the that day incident

The lawyer asked how his mother and father reacted to the relative's physical conduct.

"It was pointless to seek to penalize him," he testified. "Moreover, there was a heavy risk in doing so.

"We discussed there was a general risk to well-being in general conversation, if you try to confront him... it would not end well."

When the lawyer inquired if his mother and father had lost control of his relative, he acknowledged.

Inquired concerning his sibling being similar to a character from the picture the thriller, the brother explained: "I heard that figure's meant to be a dangerous individual and that's why I employed that term there."

He said the final contact he had with his brother was in the warmer months of that year.

He acknowledged that their family requested the killer to bid farewell to him as he was going to meet his companions and his relative hurled an object at him but the door had closed before it struck.

The inquiry proceeds.

Christina Simmons
Christina Simmons

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in investigative reporting and political analysis, focusing on European affairs.