What is ricin - the biological substance police say they found at Southport suspect's home?
The teenager charged with fatally stabbing three girls in Southport is now facing two additional charges.
Eighteen-year-old Axel Rudakubana from Lancashire has been charged with producing a biological toxin, specifically ricin, in violation of Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act of 1974.
He is also being charged with a terrorism-related offense for having information that could potentially assist someone in carrying out or planning a terrorist act, in violation of Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
This followed the police discovery of ricin and an al Qaeda training guide while searching his residence.
He had previously faced charges for three murders and ten attempted murders after a mass stabbing incident at a dance workshop inspired by Taylor Swift that took place in July.
Ricin occurs naturally in castor beans.
During the production of castor oil, the beans undergo a process that results in a leftover mash, which still contains the harmful toxin.
It's categorized as a biological material due to where it comes from, but it doesn’t transmit from one person to another like a virus or bacteria would.
However, similar to a chemical substance, it has the potential to lead to cross-contamination, such as when it comes into contact with clothing.
The UK Health Security Agency has stated that there is no proof that anyone in the public or emergency services encountered the ricin that was reportedly discovered at Rudakubana's residence.
Anyone who came into contact would likely show the initial symptoms within about 24 hours.
When inhaled, it leads to worsening problems with breathing, which can eventually result in respiratory failure and death.
If consumed, it can lead to diarrhea and vomiting, which may be intense enough to cause dehydration.
A few days later, the organs in the body may start to fail, which can lead to death.
Touching the substance can lead to irritation, but it's generally not a major concern. The real danger arises when individuals touch it with their fingers and then accidentally consume it.
Approximately 2-6% of ingestion incidents lead to fatal outcomes.
The death rate from breathing it in is not known.
The police have not provided any details about the type of ricin that was discovered.
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In past instances, it has been handled in the forms of a powder, spray, pellet, or mixed with water or acid.
In 1978, in London, Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was killed by an agent believed to be associated with the Bulgarian secret police. The assassin used an umbrella to inject a tiny pellet containing ricin into Markov's skin.
In 2013, letters laced with ricin were mailed to President Obama, the mayor of New York, and several other individuals.
That time, everyone stayed safe and unharmed.
