Bishop Stabbing Video Watched By Southport Killer Remains Available On X, Inquiry Hears
A violent stabbing video viewed by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana shortly before his attack remains available on social media platform X, an inquiry has heard.
Sheen Handoo, X's compliance and safety lead, confirmed during evidence to the Southport Inquiry that footage showing the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney, Australia, was still accessible to adult users in the UK. The video carries a sensitivity warning, but the platform has decided not to remove it because it does not consider the content a breach of its existing policies.
Handoo gave evidence during the second phase of the public inquiry, which is examining how individuals with a fixation on violence are managed and the role of online platforms in exposing people to harmful material. She began her evidence by offering condolences to the victims, their families and the wider Southport community following the devastating attack in July 2024.
However, when questioned by the inquiry's legal representative, Richard Boyle, she clarified that her expression of sympathy was not an apology on behalf of X for allowing the footage to remain available. She said the platform's decisions were based on its established policies, enforcement guidelines and content moderation procedures.
The video shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked while delivering a sermon at a church in Sydney in April 2024. The footage became significant to the Southport investigation after evidence established that Rudakubana searched for the stabbing on X shortly before leaving home to carry out the attack at a children's dance class.
According to the official Phase One report, Rudakubana searched X for the bishop's stabbing at approximately 11.04am on July 29, 2024. He left his home around six minutes later. The inquiry concluded that he probably viewed the actual footage, although limitations in the available digital records meant that his viewing of the video could not be definitively established from the account data alone.
Rudakubana subsequently carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, murdering three young girls: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. Eight other children and two adults were also targeted in the attack. He is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years.
During the hearing, Boyle questioned why X had continued to host the footage despite knowing that Rudakubana had searched for it immediately before the murders. He referred to criticism made in the inquiry's earlier report, which described the platform's refusal to remove the most graphic part of the video as deeply regrettable.
Handoo maintained that the video did not cross the platform's threshold for removal under its existing rules. She explained that X distinguishes between content that violates its policies and material that some users may find disturbing. The footage remains subject to a sensitivity warning, which requires adult users to take an additional step before viewing it.
When repeatedly asked whether she personally considered the footage horrific and violent, Handoo said she would not want to watch it. She pointed to the platform's controls for users who do not wish to encounter sensitive material. She also said the company considered the video newsworthy when making its decision to keep it online.
The inquiry's first-phase report had already raised serious concerns about X's age-verification arrangements at the time of the Southport attack. It found that Rudakubana had been able to use an account with a false date of birth, allowing him to access material marked as sensitive. The report also criticised the platform's cooperation with the inquiry and its handling of requests for information.
The report did not conclude that X had acted unlawfully by continuing to host the footage. Instead, it criticised the company's decision not to use its discretion to remove posts showing the actual stabbing, particularly after it became aware that Rudakubana had probably viewed the material shortly before the murders.
Handoo was also asked whether X had reconsidered its content moderation policies following the publication of the inquiry's first report. She said the company had continued enforcing its existing rules after reviewing escalations involving the footage. Following further questioning, she agreed to ask her team to review the policy.
The second phase of the Southport Inquiry is examining wider issues surrounding the management of people displaying violent behaviour, as well as the influence of online content and the responsibilities of organisations that operate digital platforms. Hearings are expected to continue through December 2026.
The latest evidence has renewed questions about the balance between freedom of expression, public interest and the responsibility of social media companies to limit exposure to graphic violence. The inquiry is continuing to examine what platforms knew, how they responded and whether stronger safeguards could help prevent vulnerable individuals from accessing harmful material.
For further local news, community updates and story tips, contact news@lakelandpost.co.uk or 0333 090 2080.