Violent video watched by Southport killer still on X

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Sheen Handoo, X's compliance and safety lead, confirmed the clip was "still live" for adult UK users behind a sensitivity warning.

She said the video did not breach the platform's policies, despite Rudakubana having watched it shortly before the killings.

Rudakubana, 20, is serving a life sentence after murdering six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar in an attack on a dance class in Southport in July 2024. Eight other children and two adults were seriously injured.

Handoo, who joined X in 2020, said: "I would first like to offer my sincere condolences to the victims, families and everyone in Southport that was affected by this horrific attack."

Richard Boyle, for the inquiry, said it was the "first expression of regret" from X about" its very close connection to the Southport attack".

He asked if it amounted to an apology from X for the fact Rudakubana watched the video of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel before going to the Taylor Swift themed dance class that day, which she said it did not.

During the inquiry, she was repeatedly asked if she agreed that the clip was "horrific and very violent."

An excerpt of the final report of the first inquiry phase, written by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford, was read out, which said: "I make clear that I do not suggest that X has acted unlawfully in this regard. UK law currently permits it to act in this way.

"The criticism is that it is deeply regrettable that they have refused outright to exercise their discretion to prohibit posts which include the most graphic part of the material, namely the immediate act of the stabbing of the bishop."

Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.