The inquest into the tragic death of 16-year-old Rhianan Rudd has revealed troubling details regarding her monitoring by MI5 while she was groomed by far-right extremists. Rudd, who had autism, was found dead in a children's home in May 2022, approximately 18 months after being charged with terror offenses for downloading a bomb-making manual.
During a pre-inquest review at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, it was disclosed that MI5 provided intelligence to police during their investigation into Rudd. However, the agency has denied any responsibility for providing care or support to her, maintaining that such duties fall outside its statutory functions.
Rudd had been referred to the government’s anti-radicalization program, Prevent, by her mother after showing concerning behavior. Despite being charged with serious offenses, the charges were dropped when it was revealed she had been groomed by American extremists, including Christopher Cook and Dax Mallaburn.
Rudd's mother, Emily Carter, expressed her belief that her daughter should have been viewed as a victim rather than a terrorist. The inquest will examine the state's role in her tragic circumstances, including the adequacy of the responses from MI5 and police regarding her mental health and vulnerability.
As the inquiry progresses, it is expected to scrutinize over 600 files and 17,000 pages of documentation related to the case. The full inquest is scheduled to begin in February 2025, with significant implications for how state agencies interact with vulnerable individuals.