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One educator expressed frustration over what she described as “frightening red tape” that prevented attempts to obtain police, child welfare agencies, and mental health interventions in the case of the perpetrator, a government probe was told.

Conflict-driven the teenager had targeted other children, assaulted his family member, and been caught in possession of weapons between 2019 until July 2024, when he murdered three girls inside a dance class.

But different agencies—among them Prevent, MI5, and child protection units—appeared to pass his case between them, as revealed during proceedings.

The inquiry’s barrister, lead counsel to the probe, stated the inquiry would examine during upcoming sessions regarding whether any bodies participating actually “assumed ownership”.

It was noted it was “significant” that the young man seemed to intentionally focused on women and girls at the time he selected to assault a pop music-inspired dance session.

The child Alice Aguiar, another girl, aged seven, and Bebe King, aged six, were killed while additional minors and two adults were critically harmed.

The inquiry, being held at an official venue, had been set up to investigate the perpetrator’s background, his engagements with official bodies and potential “missed opportunities” to prevent the “manifestly and extremely cowardly” attack.

Providing his introductory remarks, the barrister said that the “bureaucratic” email had been written by Cheryl Smith, a safeguarding lead at Presfield High School, who attempted to get the student to attend school for nearly 12 months.

The representative noted actions taken by educators “escalated significantly” during 21 March 2023 when the teacher emailed a colleague describing how she had contacted welfare agencies, adolescent support units and the police in an effort to prompt action—to no avail.

The message included: “Short of illegally entering it is unclear how to reach this youth.”

Mr Moss indicated initial stage of the investigation is set to review around three “main issues”—whether organizations “accepted accountability or control” for his case, whether anyone was looking at his “complete risk profile” regarding danger, and which “fundamental change” might be required to make the system function effectively.

Counsel said the killer’s online activity and purchase of dangerous items—including machetes and archery equipment—would also be significant.

The inquiry heard on the morning of the attack the assailant queried the website X using the term “Mar Mari Emmanuel stabbing”—which displayed a graphic video showing a religious leader targeted in a church.

Mr Moss stated although much of his search history had been removed, investigators uncovered that he shortly prior seen a PDF file named “excerpt from extremist writings”.

A digital gadget seized at his house contained downloads such as documents related to atrocities, brutality and weapons, a photo of the Nazi leader and a picture showing a wolf wearing clothing bearing the text: “Simply become a solitary figure bro”.

A particular file, which formed part of a criminal accusation Rudakubana pleaded guilty to, was a study of a extremist handbook—although authorities also found “anti-Muslim” material.

On another device officials found images of “deeply troubling” images such as graphic injuries, abuse, female targeting and historical regimes.

‘No terrorist ideology’

The inquiry heard his actions in education started to “decline quickly” onset of Year 9, when he was 13.

Teachers from his school within the community logged incidents like striking students, and commenting “this is why school staff are targeted” upon receiving a punishment.

He was expelled from regular schooling during the autumn of 2019 when he acknowledged he had taken a knife to the premises because he “wanted to harm another student”.

In the December, he revisited to the school and attacked a student with an object while in possession of a weapon on his person.

This led to an admission to harmful acts and carrying an offensive weapon.

From 2019 to 2021, officials flagged to the official Prevent program Prevent on multiple occasions by staff concerned at remarks he shared, and internet searches related to subjects including “school shootings” and violent incidents.

Yet whenever action was taken, even after an inter-departmental discussion with security services, the referrals were closed by specialists due to the fact no “extremist views” was identified.

Counsel said over those years, various teams within the council’s social services department started and ended investigations involving him.

Representatives said the parent, Mr Rudakubana, asked for support from welfare professionals and mental health services once his actions turned ever more unmanageable.

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