Axel Rudakubana, 18, Faces Terror and Poison Production Charges as Investigations Continue
Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old man, has been charged with the production of the deadly toxin ricin and a terror-related offence after a series of searches at his home in Banks, Lancashire. Rudakubana, who is already facing charges for the brutal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, will appear via video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The teenager is accused of producing ricin, a potent plant-derived toxin, and possessing a PDF file with material related to terrorism, specifically a manual entitled ‘Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual,’ according to Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy.
These new charges follow Rudakubana’s earlier indictment for the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who tragically died during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29.
Ricin, a highly lethal toxin derived from castor beans, can be fatal even in minuscule amounts. A grain of salt-sized dose, if injected, could kill a 10-stone adult. Ricin is both easy to extract and store, often being a by-product of castor oil production, which is used in various commercial products such as aircraft lubricants. While not highly volatile, ricin can be aerosolised and used as a weapon, although its effectiveness is limited by the challenges of delivering it in sufficient quantities.
Symptoms of ricin poisoning typically include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and can result in death within 36 to 72 hours after exposure. There is currently no vaccine or antidote for the toxin.
Historically, ricin has been used as a weapon, most famously in 1978 when Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was fatally poisoned by a ricin-laced pellet injected through an umbrella in London. Markov, who had defected to the UK, died three days later, and the case remains unsolved, with suspicions pointing to the Bulgarian secret service.
Rudakubana’s case continues to unfold as police investigate the extent of the charges against him.
