By james art According to the police, in order to qualify the attack as terrorist, the motivation must be established.
The force has warned people against speculating about a motive for the attack at Taylor Swift’s theme class on July 29, which killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Baby King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
The PA news agency looks at the charges facing Axel Rudakubana and how the incidents are being declared terrorism.
– What is Axel Rudakubana accused of?
The 18-year-old girl has been charged with the murders of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, as well as the attempted murders of eight other children, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, and possession of a knife.
On Tuesday, he was charged with additional offenses of manufacturing the biological toxin, ricin, and possessing information that could be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
– What does the accusation of terrorism refer to?
After searching Rudakubana’s home in Banks, Lancashire, in the days after the attack, police found a PDF file titled “Military Studies in Jihad Against Tyrants, an Al Qaeda Training Manual.”
He is accused of possessing it between August 29, 2021 and July 30, 2024.
He is charged under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said this charge did not require a motive to be established.
– Is the production of ricin a terrorist crime?
No, Rudakubana is charged with producing the toxin under Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974.
“What about the attack?”
The attack has not been declared a terrorist incident by counter-terrorism police.
Ms Kennedy said: “For a matter to be declared a terrorist incident, the motivation has to be established.
“We would strongly advise against speculating about the motivation in this case.
“The criminal proceedings against Axel Rudakubana are ongoing and he is entitled to a fair trial.”
– Are the police involved in counter-terrorism?
On the day of the attack, Ms Kennedy confirmed that counter-terrorism police in the North West had offered support, although the motivation for the stabbings remained unclear and was not being treated as a terrorist attack.
The force can ask counter-terrorism police to assist in the investigation of major incidents from the outset, so that they have access to more resources and tactics to enable them to progress the investigation quickly.
This may include forensic examination of the accident scene and examination of digital devices found as part of the investigation.
– What usually happens before an incident is declared terrorism?
Establishing the circumstances of an incident is often complex and will depend on the nature of the incident and what the investigation reveals, so it may take some time before an attack is declared terrorist, especially if there is no immediately clear motivation or ideology behind the incident.
Perpetrators holding mixed ideologies, which can sometimes be complex to interpret, may be one reason why it may take time to determine.
Not all violent incidents, even some atrocities involving multiple victims, are declared terrorist attacks.
Cases of extreme violence where hatred is a factor more often than not meet the legal definition of terrorism.