A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in Southport and attempting to kill ten others, in a stabbing spree which sparked last summer’s riots.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, stabbed to death Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.
He also attempted to murder eight children and two adults during the same incident, as well as possession of a knife in the incident.
And Rudakubana pleaded guilty to possession of an Al Qaeda training manual and the production of the toxin ricin.
Rudakubana has stayed silent during all legal proceedings so far, and was due to stand trial on Monday.
But in a shock twist, he entered the dock at Liverpool crown court and indicated he wanted to change all his pleas to guilty.
He will now face at least three life sentences as that is the automatic penalty for murders.
Mr Justice Goose adjourned the case for a one-day sentencing hearing on Thursday.
The families of the victims were not in court for the guilty pleas, as they believed the trial would properly start on Tuesday with the prosecution opening of the case.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC indicated to the court that they, as well as the judge, had been taken by surprise by Rudakubana’s decision to admit his crimes.
Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, has been in custody since the stabbings last August. He stayed silent at the earlier plea hearing, so not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf by the judge.
After the guilty pleas, Southport MP Patrick Hurley expressed “surprise and shock”, and welcomed justice for the families of the victims.
"This isn't a day for celebration - it is a day to make sure we remember the victims”, he said.
The murders and attempted murders were the spark for a week-long wave of rioting and disorder that spread to towns and cities across the country, with mis-information being spread online about the identity of the attacker.
Rudakubana was first charged with the murders and attempted murders, and while awaiting trial charges of producing ricin prior to the stabbings and possession of the terror document titled: “Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual” between August 21 and July 2024 were added to the indictment.
Rudakubana was armed with a kitchen knife when he entered the Taylor Swift-themed class at a studio on Hart Street in Southport.
Yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes were the adults among the victims of the stabbing spree.
Rudakubana was not initially named after his arrest, as rumours and false information spread online.
He was 17 when charged and initially there was a reporting restriction on his name. But this was successfully challenged by media organisations, to counter dis-information and because he was only a few days away from turning 18.
It has been reported that Rudakubana’s father Alphonse moved to the UK in 2002 from Rwanda, and his son was born in Cardiff, Wales four years later.
The family are understood to have moved from Wales to Banks in Lancashire in 2013.
After the attack, claims spread online that the attacker was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat in 2023, and the wrong name was also widely circulated.
A peaceful vigil was held in Southport the day after the stabbings, but afterwards a separate protest sprung up outside the town’s mosque in St Luke’s Road.
People throw items towards the mosque, property is damaged and police vehicles are set on fire.
The following day, on July 31, a demonstration was held in Whitehall in central London under the banner of “Enough Is Enough”, when flares and cans were thrown at police and more than 100 people were arrested.
Outbreaks of disorder then followed, in Hartlepool, County Durham, and Aldershot, Hampshire.
On August 1, the murder and attempted murder charges against Rudakubana were announced and he made his first appearance in court .
Rudakubana kept his face partially hidden during early court hearings, using his jumper to pull over his mouth and nose.
Further demonstrations and violent disorder happened in Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, Nottingham and Belfast.
On August 4, masked protesters attacked police during a protest outside a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
In October, fresh charges were announced against Rudakubana – possession of the terror document and production of ricin.
No details of the new charges were given in open court as the allegations were added to the existing murder trial.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced pressure from political opponents over the case, to speak publicly about knowledge of Rudakubana’s background and activities.
Prior to today’s hearing, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick posted on social media: “Once this trial is over, Keir Starmer must be held to account.
“What did he know and when? Why did it take months for the police to reveal they were investigating the suspect’s possession of documents relating to Al-Qaeda and a biological weapon? The public have a right to know and get honest answers.
“Any suggestion of a cover-up will permanently damage public trust in our authorities and whether we’re being told the truth about crime in our country.”
Before adjourning the sentencing hearing, the court was told a “considerable amount of material about (his) mental health” is being looked at, and may be aired on Thursday,
Mr Justice Goose also added there are “previous incidents which may be relevant as aggravating or mitigating features”.
He told Rudakubana: “You will understand it’s inevitable the sentence I impose on you will mean a life sentence.”
