What will the Southport Inquiry tell us and what are next steps?

What will the Southport Inquiry tell us and what are next steps?17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLauren HirstNorth WestFamily photosBebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in the 29 July 2024 attackShortly before midday on 29 July 2024, Axel Rudakubana launched an indiscriminate knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, were killed and 10 others were seriously injured during the attack at the holiday club in Merseyside town of Southport. The Southport Inquiry was set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack and the events leading up to that fateful day.Ahead of the publication of the first report, we take a look at what has happened so far and the next steps. Why was the Southport Inquiry set up?The Southport Inquiry, commissioned by then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, was set up to examine the overall timeline of the killer's history and interactions with various public bodies.The inquiry began formally on 7 April 2025 when the Home Secretary issued the terms of reference.Speaking at the time, she said: "The brutal murder of three young girls Bebe, Elsie and Alice in Southport was an unimaginable tragedy."We owe it to their families, and all those affected on that terrible day to quickly understand what went wrong, answer difficult questions and do everything in our power to prevent something like this from happening again."The Southport Inquiry will provide insights into any failings that allowed a young man with a previous history of violence, to commit this horrendous attack."The hearings began on 8 July for two days before reconvening on 8 September for nine weeks of evidence. PA MediaThe attack happened at the Hart Space studio in SouthportWhat are some of the key findings from Phase 1?The first phase of that inquiry finished in November following nine weeks of emotional evidence. One of the...