The Southport Attacks | One Year On

On 29th July 2024, a community centre in Southport hosted a sold‑out Taylor Swift-themed workshop for children. What began as a fun event, soon turned into a scene of horror.

Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudakubana entered the studio wearing a hood and face mask, wielding a 20 cm kitchen knife. In under a minute, he launched a meticulously planned rampage that left three young girls dead and injured 10 others, including eight children and two adults who bravely intervened.

One year after the event, Hayley Rhodes sits down with Hannah Webster and Jo Conchie-Power to discuss the horrific event, the tumultuous aftermath, and the recent inquest which Jo attended.

This powerful episode explores what happens when a community event becomes a site of tragedy, and how reactionary panic, prejudice, and falsehoods can ripple out to change a nation’s narrative. It’s a story of terror, loss, misinformation, and the resilience needed to rebuild.