New rules around buying knives online in wake of Southport attack

The Government is looking at tougher restrictions on people buying knives online, in the wake of the Southport attack.

Child killer Axel Rudakubana used a knife he bought on Amazon to kill six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice DaSilver Aguiar.

The 18-year-old had also admitted to carrying a knife 10 times before making the purchase through the online retail giant.

The Government will take steps to tighten legislation and limit access to knives, a minister has said.

"Where we need to tighten legislation so that we limit people's access to knives that can do such a damage, we will take those steps," employment minister Alison McGovern told Sky News.

Asked if Amazon would be punished for selling a knife to the Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, she said that information would come out in the inquiry.

"We've got to have the right powers to stop this," she said.

She added: "We know that knife crime is an issue. It's a real issue and we've got to take every possible step to stop the flow of knives."

Amazon is reportedly carrying out an urgent review of the sale of knives, and has said it has a "trusted" verification system.

Currently, customers buying knives through Amazon are asked to enter their date of birth, and told a signature and ID will be required upon delivery.

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