A new offence to cover lone individuals planning non-terrorist mass killings should be considered in the wake of the Southport attacks, the UK's terror watchdog has said.

Jonathan Hall KC said it was "horrifying" officers couldn't intervene despite knowing Rudakubana planned mass killings.

The UK’s terror watchdog has recommended the creation of a new offence after a gap in the law meant police “could not arrest” the Southport killer before he carried out his attack. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

A gap in the law prevented the Southport killer being arrested before he carried out the horrific attack last summer, a watchdog has said. The UK's terror watchdog have recommended the creation of a new offence to target loners planning mass killings.