By Nakiwala Barbra
Axel Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last year.
The attack on 29 July 2024 claimed the lives of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7. Ten others, including eight children, were also injured in what prosecutors described as a “meticulously planned rampage.”
The trial at Liverpool Crown Court was set to begin when Rudakubana unexpectedly admitted to all charges, including three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, and terror-related offences. He also pleaded guilty to producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual. Despite these admissions, Merseyside Police stated that the attack had not been classified as a terrorist incident.
Government sources revealed that Rudakubana had been referred to the counter-terrorism Prevent programme several times before the attack due to his obsession with violence. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a public inquiry into the incident, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the attack a “moment of trauma for the nation” and vowed to uncover how the state failed to protect the victims.
The attack occurred at the Hart Centre in Southport during a summer holiday dance class. Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, also injured yoga instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, who tried to intervene. A peaceful vigil held in the town the following day was overshadowed by riots fueled by misinformation falsely claiming Rudakubana was an asylum seeker. These riots led to 1,200 arrests and over 400 prosecutions across the UK.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Goose, indicated that Rudakubana would receive a life sentence, though a whole-life term was not possible because he is under 21. Local MP Patrick Hurley welcomed the guilty pleas, saying they spared the victims’ families the “mental torture” of a trial. He urged the community to focus on remembering the victims rather than celebrating the outcome.
The King visited Southport in the aftermath of the tragedy to pay respects to the victims, highlighting the profound impact the incident has had on the nation. The sentencing of Rudakubana is scheduled for Thursday, with life imprisonment described as “inevitable.”
