The Southport killer is being treated as a terrorist, the Government has confirmed, as a review identified a string of missed opportunities to spot his obsession with extremism.

The Prevent counter-terrorism scheme "prematurely" closed its case on Axel Rudakubana three years before he went on to murder three children in Southport, a government review has found.

Security minister Dan Jarvis has told the Commons Axel Rudakubana’s case should have been case managed, not closed.

Axel Rudakubana’s referral to the UK counterterrorism scheme was closed prematurely, three years before he murdered three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, a review has found.

Leading counter-terrorism officer Matt Jukes called on the Government to make urgent changes were needed to avoid a repeat of Axel Rudakubana's horrific triple murder in Southport