Southport killer Axel Rudakubana appears in court charged with attacks on staff at Belmarsh prison

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:16 EDT, 21 September 2026 | Updated: 05:44 EDT, 21 September 2026 Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has appeared in court today charged with assaults on prison staff at Belmarsh.Rudakubana has been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in May 2025, assaulting an emergency worker in October 2025 and possession of an offensive weapon in prison in June 2025.Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that Rudakubana threw boiling water over a prison officer through the hatch in the door of his cell after obtaining a kettle.The victim was able to seek medical attention quickly to prevent permanent injury.The 20-year-old is also alleged to have carried out further assaults on guards.Prior to the kettle attack, he is alleged to have threatened to soak a female officer if she did not pass him a newspaper.The prisoner, who is currently being held at Broadmoor Hospital, threatened to throw liquid at the female guard but she did not suffer any injuries, it was said. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, now 20, will appear in court via video link today charged with attacks on prison staffThe hearing was also told that Rudakubana had carried out another attack on a male guard, allegedly punching him in the face when he questioned the defendant about whether he had taken his medication.He is also charged with being in possession of stone shards.The triple killer is said to have told prison staff that he had these items as he feared 'officers had been poisoning food.'During the brief hearing, the defendant sat with his head in his hands.Appearing on videolink from a secure unit in Broadmoor Hospital, the defendant was flanked by three security guards who stood watching proceedings behind him.Wearing a grey and black striped tracksuit, Rudakubana spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.Rudakubana was given a life sentence for the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.He carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, 2024.In July this year, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that he was transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.Offenders who present an increased risk and cannot be managed safely in a prison environment because of mental disorders can be moved to secure psychiatric units.People in these units are treated as patients rather than prisoners.Broadmoor, in Berkshire, is the oldest of the UK's three high-security hospitals and has held some of the UK's most high-profile criminals, including Ronnie Kray and serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper.Under the Mental Health Act, officials acting for the Justice Secretary have no choice but to accept the advice of clinical professionals to transfer prisoners to a secure facility.An offender in a secure hospital will be compelled to engage with treatment and to undertake therapies before any return to prison or release into the community.Where offenders no longer require treatment in hospital, the Act allows a swift return to prison.More to follow.