South Yorkshire anti-knife crime campaigner calls for more awareness around 'radicalisation' risks
It's following exactly 12 months since the Southport murders
A South Yorkshire anti-knife crime campaigner says it's 'vital' young people are aware of 'grooming' & 'radicalisation' risks.
It comes as today marks exactly a year since the tragic Southport murders - where 3 girls were murdered at a dance class.
Sheffield man Anthony Olaseinde has this message for any teenager struggling to identify with anyone:
"You know it's scary being a teenager.
"It feels like you're lost and you don't know what to do and you just want to belong to somebody, but that's all a part of growing up.
"You don't realise who you are properly until you get older.
"Grooming is well-known, and radicalisation is effectively grooming.
"The only difference is what that person wants you to do.
"If it's grooming for radicalisation, they want you to hurt other people in the name of their agenda or whatever they're pushing.
"If it's a drug gang, they'll want you to sell drugs, or if it's a prostitution ring, they'll want you to sell yourself.
"Young people need to stick around positive role models, but sadly not everybody has that opportunity in life."
Earlier this year, a government review found the prevent-counter terrorism scheme 'prematurely closed' its case against Axel Rudakubana.
He stabbed the girls to death 3 years later in 2024 & was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in jail earlier this year.