Southport inquiry demands probe into machete firm and review of online knife sales

Southport inquiry demands probe into machete firm and review of online knife salesThe Hunting and Knives site was “routinely marketing knives online in a way which is inappropriate and irresponsible” the report said, and should be subject to a police investigationNewsPhil Cardy Senior Reporter09:54, 15 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesSir Adrian Fulford led the inquiry into the Southport killings(Image: PA)An online company which sold a machete to Axel Rudakubana should be investigated by police, the Southport inquiry report stated.‌The Hunting and Knives site was “routinely marketing knives online in a way which is inappropriate and irresponsible” the report said. It said there were “references to knives/machetes as weapons, their utility for stabbing, and with reference to combat”.‌Rudakubana bought a Congo Kukri machete from the website in October 2023 using the fake identity of a 62-year-old - with inquiry chairman Sir Adrian Fulford describing their age verification procedures as “weak”.‌The machete - one of three the killer bought, with one of them confiscated by his father - was delivered without any age checks as the company had not ensured the delivery company complied with the legal requirement to ensure the recipient was over 18, the inquiry heard. In total 2,811 items - 99.9 per cent of them knives - were sent in this way.READ MORE: Southport families call for killer's parents to be jailed and officials sackedREAD MORE: Families demand 3 changes to prevent another Southport attack and slam killer's parentsView 3 ImagesBebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024(Image: PA)Sir Adrian’s report said that “there should be a police-led investigation as to whether they have committed one or more criminal offence”.‌Alice Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Stancombe, seven, were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift themed dance class on July 29 2024 by Rudakubana, then aged 17. He used a...