Axel Rudakubana, the 19-year-old convicted in the 2024 killings of three children and the attempted murder of others, has been charged with a series of alleged assaults on prison staff while in custody and has been transferred to Broadmoor, the high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.
New charges and a court date
The Metropolitan Police announced that Rudakubana was charged this week with four offences arising from separate incidents while he was held at Belmarsh. The offences cover:
- Assault on an emergency worker — alleged 6 May 2025
- Attempted grievous bodily harm — alleged 8 May 2025
- Possession of an offensive weapon in prison — alleged 26 June 2025
- Assault on an emergency worker — alleged 28 October 2025
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via videolink on Friday 11 September.
Transfer to a secure hospital
Last week the Ministry of Justice confirmed Rudakubana had been moved from a prison setting to Broadmoor. The hospital is one of three high-security psychiatric units in England and is the county’s principal facility for offenders who are assessed as needing in-patient psychiatric care rather than continued management in a conventional prison.
Under the provisions of the Mental Health Act, transfers are made when clinicians advise that a prisoner cannot be managed safely in custody because of a mental disorder. In such a secure hospital the individual is treated as a patient and required to engage with clinical interventions; the Act also permits a swift return to prison if treatment is no longer needed.
What this means locally
Broadmoor, located in Berkshire, has a long history of holding high-profile offenders and provides specialised psychiatric care. The transfer will be managed by healthcare and justice officials; local residents and services are not directly responsible for the decision but the presence of an offender in a secure hospital can prompt public questions about safety and oversight.
Key practical points for the public:
- Movement of prisoners to secure hospitals follows clinical recommendations, not ministerial discretion.
- Patients in these units are treated under mental health law; any future change of setting requires further clinical and legal consideration.
- Court proceedings for the new charges will be heard remotely, as is common when defendants are held under close security.
Background to the case
Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment after a trial that related to an attack at a themed dance class in July 2024 in which children were killed and others injured. The recent allegations against him concern incidents reportedly carried out while he was detained at Belmarsh, one of the country’s highest-security prisons.
| Date | Allegation |
|---|---|
| 6 May 2025 | Assault on an emergency worker |
| 8 May 2025 | Attempted grievous bodily harm |
| 26 June 2025 | Possession of an offensive weapon in prison |
| 28 October 2025 | Assault on an emergency worker |
Further hearings will determine whether the new charges progress to trial. Meanwhile, clinicians and justice officials will oversee Rudakubana’s care at Broadmoor while assessing risk and treatment needs.
This transfer highlights the interface between the criminal justice system and mental health services when dealing with offenders who present a significant risk and complex clinical needs.
