Axel Rudakubana pleads guilty to murdering three young girls in Southport knife attack

Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

The 18-year-old, who was born in Cardiff, admitted to the attack on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire, was to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday charged with 16 offences, including three counts of murder.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died following the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed class in The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town shortly before midday on July 29.

The defendant, who was 17 at the time of the attack, admitted their murders as well as the attempted murder of eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Mr Justice Goose said Rudakubana will be sentenced on Thursday.

Rudakubana also admitted to the production of a biological toxin, ricin, on or before July 29 and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

The terrorism offence relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual which he is said to have possessed between August 29, 2021 and July 30, 2024.

Ricin, a deadly poison, and the document were found during searches of the home on Old School Close which he shared with his parents, who are originally from Rwanda.

The attack in Southport has not been declared a terrorist incident despite the discovery of the document, Merseyside Police said last year.

It is understood that Reudakubana showed violent behaviour while in high school with teachers highlighting concerns about his behaviour.

The teenager, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, is believed to have left Range High School in Formby in around 2019, before moving to a specialist school where they expressed concern about Rudakubana’s behaviour and his violence towards others.

At his first appearance at Liverpool Crown Court, Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said it was understood Rudakubana had been unwilling to leave the house and communicate with his family for a period of time.

She said: “He was seen by the psychiatrists at the police station but refused to engage with them.”

The court was told he had no obvious evidence of mental health disorder which required diversion to hospital.