Officers who confronted Southport killer honoured

Three police officers who confronted Southport knife attacker Axel Rudakubana have been honoured for their bravery.

Sgt Gregory Gillespie, PC Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry were the first officers to arrive on the scene at the Taylor Swift-themed workshop on 29 July last year.

Rudakubana, then 17, murdered Alice Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and injured 10 others including eight children.

The three Merseyside Police officers, who approached the killer as he was standing at the top of a flight of stairs holding a large knife, were recognised at the Police Federation of England and Wales 2025 bravery awards.

Sgt Gillespie was the first to arrive at Hart Street in Southport and he described seeing "chaos", with "extremely panicked" people in the street.

He directed paramedics to a seriously injured child before being joined by PC Holden and PCSO Parry.

They witnessed members of the public running away from the dance studio carrying young children.

Armed with a baton and a Taser, Sgt Gillespie and PC Holden entered the building while PCSO Parry covered the exit.

They found Rudakubana, then aged 17, holding a large knife at the top of the stairs.

They approached while shouting at him to drop the knife. PCSO Parry also ran in to assist.

Rudakubana, who was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January, dropped the weapon and was handcuffed and arrested after the trio struck him with a baton.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside after the awards ceremony, Sgt Gillespie said: "It was a very, very tough day and anyone who was there has probably spent the last 12 months trying and failing to process it and to comprehend what we bore witness to.

"I think the memories of that will stay with everyone for the rest of our lives."

He said, however, "we do take some solace in the support that we have had from our own employer and also the community of Southport, who have shown nothing but love and affection".

"Everyone's come together and been so supportive of each other and Merseyside Police."

He added he had seen people from across the emergency services coming together that day with neighbours, passers-by and people working locally.

"All I saw was everybody, regardless of organisation or rank, just working together as hard as they could just to try to help as many children as they could."

He added they could be "very proud of themselves".

PCSO Parry said he made the decision to enter the building as "I needed to be in there to help my colleagues and anybody else who was potentially in there".

PC Holden said: "I think about the job every single day since it happened.

"I think about all the victims and the victims' families."

He said that "time, to an extent, will start to heal those involved but it's something that's fundamentally changed me as a person", adding that "adapting to a new normality is key, really".

Police Federation of England and Wales national chairwoman Tiff Lynch said of all the winners: "Whether confronting violent attackers, rescuing individuals from life-threatening situations, or making split-second decisions under immense pressure, these officers have shown exceptional courage and selflessness".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.