Southport Murderer Faces Trial for Alleged 'Prison Napalm' Attack

Axel Rudakubana, the convicted murderer responsible for the Southport massacre, is slated for trial next year over accusations of assaulting prison officers at HMP Belmarsh. The 20-year-old, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 2024 killings of three young girls, appeared via videolink from Broadmoor Hospital at the Old Bailey.

Rudakubana faces charges including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of an offensive weapon in prison. The prosecution alleges that on May 8 of last year, Rudakubana threw boiling water mixed with sugar, described as 'prison napalm,' through his cell door hatch at a male officer. The officer sustained injuries but was released from the hospital the same day and returned to work.

Prosecutors also detailed other alleged incidents. Two days prior to the 'prison napalm' attack, Rudakubana is accused of threatening a female officer and throwing an unknown liquid at her. On October 28, 2025, he allegedly punched a male officer who confronted him as he attempted to walk past staff checking his medication.

Further allegations include Rudakubana sharpening stone shards, apparently pried from his cell floor, in June of last year. These were reportedly found attached to the underside of a shelving unit. During questioning after the boiling water incident, Rudakubana claimed that prison officers had been poisoning his food.

A potential trial is scheduled for October of next year, with a preliminary hearing set for February to determine future proceedings. Rudakubana was transferred from prison to Broadmoor, a secure psychiatric unit, in July of this year. Offenders with severe mental disorders who pose a significant risk and cannot be safely managed in a prison setting are transferred to such facilities, where they are treated as patients.

Rudakubana was convicted of the murders of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, as well as the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults. The 2024 atrocity led to riots across the country. Broadmoor Hospital, one of the UK's three high-security hospitals, has housed notable high-profile criminals in the past. Under the Mental Health Act, transfers to secure facilities are based on clinical advice, and patients are required to engage with treatment before any potential return to prison or release.