Teenager planned “Southport-style attack” on first Oasis comeback show

A teenager has appeared in court after he allegedly planned an attack at the first date of Oasis‘ reunion tour earlier this month.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he was accused of plotting an attack similar to the killings at a dance school in Southport last year.

According to The Times, the boy allegedly looked online for information about how to obtain large knives and sent a photo of one to a friend to ask if it was suitable.

The teen is said to be from Cwmbran, South Wales, and he allegedly told friends of his plans to travel to Cardiff to carry out the attack on the first night of Oasis’ anticipated comeback tour at the city’s Principality Stadium on July 4.

It has also been alleged that the boy had praised Axel Rudakubana, who murdered seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, six-year-old Bebe King and nine-year-old Alica da Silva Aguiar as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2023. Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years earlier this year.

The boy behind the planned attack is said to have been reported to the police by someone he spoke to on Snapchat, while he had an appointment with a counsellor in early June after being referred by his family. The counsellor is then said to have reported the teenager to authorities after he praised Rudakubana during their session together.

He is also alleged to have researched the Southport killer on his phone and admitted to transferring an Al-Qaeda training manual between mobile phones. For the latter offence, he has been charged with one count of possessing a document useful for terrorism — an offence for which Rudakubana received an 18-month sentence. However, there was no evidence the teenager held a specific ideology that would fit the legal definition of terrorism.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Westminster on June 21, and the case has now been committed to the Crown Court.