The taxi driver who transported Axel Rudakubana to the Southport attack waited 50 minutes before calling emergency services, despite hearing children scream and seeing them flee the building. Gary Poland dropped off the teenager at the scene of the deadly attack on July 29 last year but delayed contacting police until 12.36pm.
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye, the senior investigating officer, told the Southport Inquiry that Poland would have been expected "morally" to make an earlier call. Speaking at Liverpool Town Hall on Monday, Pye said there was enough evidence that Poland "knew what was happening" and "you would have expected a phone call to come in".
Poland witnessed children running from the Hart Space building in his rearview mirror as he began to drive away from Hart Street. Rear dashcam footage from his taxi showed children exiting the building and screaming could be heard, with Poland looking in his rearview mirror.
Attack details and victims
Rudakubana killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, during the attack on a Taylor Swift dance class. The then 17-year-old also attempted to murder 10 others after entering the building where 26 children were taking part in the holiday club.
Rudakubana had arranged his transport by calling One Call Taxis using an automated system that recognised his name as Simon. His Nokia phone, recovered from the attack scene, contained the studio's address and a number correlating to a local taxi firm, as well as the venue's postcode which had been advertised on Instagram.
The teenager was picked up just after 11.30am and travelled for 14 minutes to Hart Street, where he left the vehicle without paying despite repeated requests from Poland. When Rudakubana failed to pay, Poland said "you pay now or the police are on the f****** way, you knob", but received no audible response.
Timeline of the attack
Sounds of distress could be heard at 11.46am, just 29 seconds after Rudakubana entered the building. When asked if this demonstrated the speed of the "horrifying incident", Pye replied: "Absolutely."
The first child to escape, referred to as C3, came out as Poland was beginning to drive away and had to change direction because of his car. Twenty-seven seconds after Poland heard the screams, dance teacher Leanne Lucas made a 999 call after running out of the class with stab injuries.
When Poland finally called emergency services at 12.36pm, he told the operator: "I picked him up, the lad that's done something." He described being in "shock" and said Rudakubana had seemed "very, very odd" during the journey, adding: "I was just about to drive off then I heard screaming, proper screaming."
Investigation findings
Pye confirmed that Poland's delay in calling emergency services did not affect the police response to the attack. As senior investigator, he had considered whether the 50-minute delay made any difference and concluded "I don't believe it did".
Poland is expected to give evidence to the inquiry later this week. The hearing continues as investigators examine all aspects of the attack and the emergency response.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
