Report into asylum seeker guilty of murder will not be released

The Government has no plans to release a report investigating the circumstances around the asylum seeker who killed a young man on the streets of Bournemouth.

Lawengeen Abdulrahimzai had already been convicted of a double murder in Serbia when he arrived in the UK at the Port of Poole in 2019.

He claimed to be 14 years old and was placed in foster care as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child.

Abdulrahimzai, who a judge determined to be 21 years old, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years for the murder of 21-year-old Tom Roberts.

He was found guilty following a trial of Salisbury Crown Court in January over the fatal stabbing outside Subway in Old Christchurch Road on March 12 last year.

Bournemouth MPs Conor Burns and Tobias Ellwood both called for the Home Office to launch an inquiry over authority failings.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick confirmed the Government would be “investigating the full circumstances surrounding the case so we can ensure we learn all of the lessons”.

Mr Burns, who represents Bournemouth West, recently sought an update from Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

In response, Home Office minister Chris Philp said: “The Home Office is conducting an internal investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding this case. We do not routinely publish internal reports and there are no plans to do so here.

“All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks against their claimed identity including criminality checks on UK databases and we are working to strengthen ties with international partners to make vital intelligence sharing more seamless.

“Individuals attempting to dupe the system using multiple names and ages will face decisive action.”