British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the murder of three girls during a dance class dedicated to Taylor Swift should lead to "fundamental change" in the way the state protects citizens, BTA reports.
This came after an attack in which teenager Axel Rudakubana from Southport stabbed three young girls to death and injured eight other children, their instructor and a bystander.
Starmer said that a public inquiry was needed that would focus on the shortcomings in the work of the authorities and the questions that remain unanswered – how could a violent teenager like Rudakubana not have been stopped before he carried out the attack?
New terrorist threats: Violence from loners and outsiders
The prime minister warned that the Southport attack signalled a new, different form of terrorist threat - terrorism carried out by lone perpetrators. In the past, he said, the threat had been linked to organised crime groups with clear political aims, such as al-Qaeda. However, there is currently a rise in violent acts carried out by individuals inspired by terrorist groups but acting independently and motivated by a desire for attention.
Legislative Review: Need for Changes to Terrorism Laws
Starmer said the government could consider changes to the UK's terrorism laws if necessary to address the new threats posed by violence from individuals and outsiders. He stressed the importance of adapting the law to modern realities so that it can respond more effectively to the growing incidence of extreme violence.