Southport attack inquiry blames ‘catastrophic’ failures by agencies and killer’s ‘irresponsible’ parents

Sir Adrian Fulford, sitting inside the hearing room at Liverpool town hall. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Axel Rudakubana was able to carry out the Southport atrocity because of “catastrophic” failures by multiple agencies and the “irresponsible and harmful” role of his parents, a damning inquiry has found.

Sir Adrian Fulford condemned the “inappropriate merry-go-round” of state bodies passing the buck and their “frankly depressing” refusal to accept responsibility, saying: “This culture has to end.”