21 March 2025 , 05:57
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Owners of online retailers, including billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, could face imprisonment for illegally selling knives to minors under 18.
According to information obtained by UK journalists from the Home Office, online business owners may face up to two years in prison if they allow children to purchase knives, under new measures introduced by the Labour government, reported by The Daily Telegraph.
The legislative changes regarding the sale of kitchen knives are linked to the 2024 murder of three girls in Southport, committed by 17-year-old Rwandan national Axel Rudakubana.
The perpetrator purchased the murder weapon — a knife — on Amazon by falsifying identity verification. Reports indicate he bypassed the company’s two-step identity check using software to encrypt his personal data and hide his internet address.
Additionally, possession of bladed weapons for violent purposes will now carry a prison sentence of up to four years. The Home Office is also considering introducing a registration scheme for all online stores selling knives to eliminate irresponsible sellers.
As of September 24, 2024, the UK has implemented a ban on owning machetes and exotic knives with blades longer than 20 cm. A similar ban on samurai swords is also expected.
This decision follows the 2022 murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was attacked by two 17-year-olds wielding a "ninja sword" purchased from an online store. The victim’s mother campaigned for the ban, which was previously rejected by the Conservative government that lost the July parliamentary elections.
World Affairs Correspondent