Fears 'incel' Axel Rudakubana attacked Taylor Swift class due to hatred of women
Axel Rudakubana has never explained the motive behind his horrific attack on a class full of women and girls, but sources say evidence suggests he was obsessed with notoriety
www.mirror.co.uk
Fears have been raised that Southport monster Axel Rudakubana could have been motivated to attack little girls by a hatred of women, or a dark "obsession with notoriety".
Former classmates of the twisted teen have raised concerns that he may have stabbed a Taylor Swift themed dance class full of women and girls because he was "like an incel".
The term refers to a male who is 'involuntary celibate' and blames women for their situation.
Police claim there is no evidence that the killer hated women, but officers have been unable to recover the laptop history he deleted shortly before the attack on July 29.
However Home Office sources confirmed there was evidence that Rudakubana, who once starred in a TV advert and attended drama classes, was desperate to be known and "obsessed with notoriety".
One pupil who went to school with Rudakubana told the Sunday Times: "He didn't have any friends...because he didn't really fit in. He never spoke to girls. When my mates saw the attack they guessed it was because he was...like an incel."
It is understood that he wrote to the National Crime Agency aged 16 asking it to investigate people who he claimed were bullying him. On another occasion he asked the NCA whether he was "known to" it.
During his sentencing hearing, smirking killer Rudakubana desperately sought to cause havoc and grab the limelight by shouting at the judge: "I'm not well, I need a paramedic".
After being removed from the dock so medics could get a second opinion on whether he was fit to attend court, the sick teen agreed to come back quietly, only to disrupt the proceedings again when given the chance.
Friends of the fatal victims Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar and their families have subsequently refused to call the killer by his name.
Ahead of the hearing last Thursday, one pal of Elsie's family wrote online: "What has been abundantly clear throughout is that this evil person has thrived from the notoriety and attention he has gained throughout this process.
"I will therefore not give him the satisfaction of even using his name. The biggest punishment for him would be knowing that he has faded into insignificance, whilst the world is united remembering the three beautiful girls who are a perfect representation of a society we should all strive to live in."
Officers say they are desperately trying to retrieve data from Rudakubana's devices via authorities in the United States, where it is held by tech giants like Google.
But Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye of Merseyside police said the force has been told it could 'take years' to get the information. He added that had Southport been declared a terrorist attack, British police could have secured help from the FBI immediately.
Brave dance teacher Leanne Lucas, who was also seriously injured in the ordeal, said Rudakubana targeted them because they were women and girls.
In her victim impact statement at his sentencing last week, Leanne said: "He targeted us because we were women and girls, vulnerable and easy prey. To discover that he had always set out to hurt the vulnerable is beyond comprehensible."
Screenshots of the Instagram post Leanne had put online to advertise the Taylor Swift event were found on Rudakubana's devices.
CCTV played at the hearing showed the moment the heroic teacher shepherded her class to safety despite being stabbed in the neck, back and arms.
Leanne was also praised last year for her speech at a vigil remembering victims of male violence against women and girls.
At the time she said: "The guilt, shame and fear we can feel as women will be outshone by courage, fierceness and our ability to connect."
