Child-killer Axel Rudakubana has been handed life sentences for the “evil” knife attack which left three young girls dead at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport.
The 18-year-old, who was obsessed with violence and murder, wanted to become a notorious mass murderer when he launched the knife rampage at a children’s Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport on July 29 last year.
Rudakubana armed himself with a large kitchen knife he had bought on Amazon, took a taxi to the dance studio, and started stabbing children at random.
Chilling footage released shows Rudakubana in the moments before the attack.
Screams rang out from the studio as Rudakubana inflicted “sadistic” violence and attempted to decapitate one of the victims, Liverpool crown court heard.
Three - Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven – died of the injuries inflicted by Rudakubana.
Eight other children were injured, as well as two adults, dance class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, who tried to intervene to stop the attack.
See also: Portrait of a killer: how the Southport murders are part of a new pattern of violent terror
Sentencing Rudakubana to life sentences with a minimum term of 52 years, Mr Justice Goose said the killer was intent on “horrific extreme violence” and would have killed all 26 children and adult who got in his way if he could.
“In his mind was an intention to murder as many of them as he possibly could”, he said.
“He wanted to carry out mass murder on innocent, happy young girls.
“Over 15 minutes, he savagely killed three of them and attempted to kill eight more as well as two adults who tried to stop him.”
The judge said the stabbings are “difficult to comprehend”, and said he did not disagree with those branding him “evil”.
He added that he would have given Rudakubana a whole life order if it was not blocked under law because he was 17 at the time, but added: “It is highly likely he will never be released”.
The court has heard Rudakubana was referred to government counter terror scheme Prevent three times in the past, while there were a swathe of incidents when the teenager made violent threats and carried a knife.
Rudakubana had produced homemade ricin, which the judge concluded he would have used if given the chance, and said he is “satisfied that for some time he had planned to kill as many people as he could.”
Victims left with life-long trauma
Victims of the horrifying attack gave evidence to the court about their lasting trauma, with one of the girls who was stabbed saying of Rudakubana: “You looked possessed and you didn’t look human.”
The mother of Elsie Dot Stancombe told Rudakubana: “What you did was not only cruel and pure evil; it was the act of a coward.”
The court also heard how the father of one of the injured girls likened the scene of the stabbing to a “war zone”, and he did not recognise his own daughter due to the extent of her injuries.
At the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said Rudakubana was behind a “pre-meditated, planned knife attack upon multiple victims, principally young girls, intending to kill them. Three children were killed, two of those children suffered particularly horrific injuries which are difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature.
“He also attempted to kill ten others, inflicting a number of stab wounds upon them, including to their backs, suggesting they were inflicted as they tried to escape.
“When his home was searched following his arrest, a number of weapons were recovered including the biological toxin ricin which the defendant had produced in his bedroom.
“On his computer devices a large number of images and documents were found which demonstrated that he had a long standing obsession with violence, killing and genocide.
“Among those documents was a version of the Al-Qaeda training manual, which provides instructions on how to commit acts of terror, including with a knife and with poisons, including ricin.
“Having researched atrocities committed by others, the evidence suggests that he set out to emulate them on the 29th July.
“There is no evidence, however, that he ascribed to any particular political or religious ideology. He wasn’t fighting for a cause.
“His only purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable in our society in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he succeeded in doing.
“Whilst under arrest at the police station after the incident, Mr Rudakubana was heard to say, ‘It’s a good thing those children are dead… I’m so glad… I’m so happy.”
After the prosecution opening started, Rudakubana shouted from the dock “I need to speak to a paramedic because I feel ill.”
Mr Justice Goose paused the hearing, but said Rudakubana has already been seen by medics and has been deemed fit to attend court. He said the hearing should continue.
The judge then ejected Rudakubana from the courtroom when he continue to shout from the dock as Ms Heer tried to speak. A voice from the public gallery shouted “coward” as he left the dock.
Following a lunch break, Rudakubana was removed from the dock for a second time after he began to shout.
After sitting quietly for a short period with his head lowered he shouted: "Judge!
"I feel really ill, I need to be seen by a paramedic."
Rudakubana, wearing prison grey clothes and a blue surgical mask, sat down with his head buried in his hands as he first entered the dock. He then refused to answer when asked to confirm his name.
He then refused to return to court for the judge’s sentencing, sitting cowardly in his cell instead.
Southport attack was trigger for riots
The Southport attack was the trigger for a week of rioting and violent disorder in towns and cities around the country, fuelled initially by misinformation about the identity of the attacker.
It was circulated online that Rudakubana was an asylum seeker who had entered the country illegally by boat. In fact, the teenager was British-born.
Sir Keir Starmer has now launched an inquiry into the build up to the attack, to investigate suspected missed opportunities to stop Rudakubana as he developed a chilling interest in extreme violence, researching topics such as Nazi Germany, Al Qaeda, US school shootings, and the Rwandan genocide.
Horror unfolded at the dance class
Large parts of Rudakubana’s attack were caught on camera, in horrifying CCTV footage of the outside the building housing the dance studio.
Ms Lucas had advertised the Taylor Swift themed dance class on Instagram, to be held at The Hart Space on a small business park in Southport from 10am on July 29.
Twenty six children signed up for the sold-out class, and were pictured smiling and playing at the event.
But shortly before midday, Rudakubana – 17 at the time - arrived by taxi at the studio. He was wearing a blue surgical mask, a green hoodie with the hood pulled up over his head.
The court heard Rudakubana, who lives around five miles from the dance studio, had armed himself with an Apollo Cerbera knife with a 20in blade, bought from Amazon.
He had used encrypted technology to conceal his identity, and he deleted his Internet browsing history before launching the attack.
He booked a taxi under the name “Simon”, and left the car without paying as he headed to the dance studio.
When challenged about not paying the taxi bill, Rudakubana replied: “What are you going to do about it?”
CCTV shows Rudakubana enter the building, and seconds later terrified screams from the children. Those who could are seen streaming out of the building in terror.
Rudakubana had entered the class as the children made bracelets and listened to Taylor Swift songs, grabbing the nearest children and stabbing them before moving on to the next victim.
Ms Lucas saw Rudakubana moments before the attack when she opened a window, and seconds later “the door to the studio opened and she saw him again”.
“Without saying a word, he grabbed the child nearest to him from behind and put his arm around her”, said the prosecutor.
“At first, Leanne Lucas thought he was there to collect her, but he then moved on to a second child and then a third, Alice Da Silva Aguiar.
“He moved quickly through the room without saying anything. It was only when he reached her and she felt a knife go into her back, that Leanne Lucas realised he was armed and stabbing them.”
Ms Lucas said she may have shouted for everyone to run, and she saw Rudakubana chasing children as they fled.
Some of the youngsters were stabbed in the back as they tried to flee.
The second class tutor, Heidi Liddle was sat on the floor helping the children to make bracelets when she heard screaming, and she saw Rudakubana “move swiftly across the room, lunging through the children”.
“It was only when he stabbed Leanne Lucas that she began to register what was happening”, said Ms Heer.
“She tried to pull Leanne away and then started pushing the children towards the exit.”
The court heard Ms Liddle saw a young girl running to a toilet, and she followed and helped the girl to barricaded themselves inside.
“Outside they could hear children screaming, and then the door rattled. When she heard voices outside the toilet door crying for the defendant to stop she realised that not all of the children had managed to escape.”
Police bodyworn footage caught the moment they were found, terrified in the toilet and struggling to breathe.
One of the mothers who was waiting for the class managed to rescue her daughter and three other children, sheltering them in the car. One of the children was Alice Da Silva Aguiar, who collapsed by the side of the vehicle.
Rudakubana was caught on CCTV dragging one child back into the building when she was a fraction away from escaping. There were gasps and sobbing in the public gallery as the footage showed the girl staggering into the car park, attempting to access a building next door, before collapsing in a doorway.
Jonathan Hayes, who was working at an office near to the dance studio, heard screams and saw children fleeing.
“As he walked onto the landing, he saw the body of a child, lying motionless on the floor”, he prosecutor said.
“Crouching over her was the defendant who then began to approach him, following him into his office as he retreated.
“The defendant swiped at him with a knife, which he tried to grab. During the confrontation, the defendant stabbed him in the leg and he fell to the ground, shouting for help.”
Other members of the public tried to intervene but retreated when faced with a knife-wielding Rudakubana. Police armed with Tasers then arrived, and arrested the killer.
Ms Heer told the court that seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe had been stabbed many times, including to the head and neck.
The court heard Bebe King had also be stabbed repeatedly.
Alice Da Silva Aguiar got out of the building but collapsed near to a car, as she struggled to keep up with other children fleeing.
Survivors and families traumatised for life
The mother of one of the girls who nearly died from her injuries described her husband’s desperate attempts to find his daughter after the stabbing.
“There were children lying on the floor receiving help. He talks of it now like a warzone”, she said.
“I know he is completely traumatised by what he experienced that day, he is broken by it.
“He asked me what she was wearing as he searched for her. There was a girl on the ground who was wearing the same clothes.
“Lying on the floor whilst members of the public tried to get a paramedic to her. She was so horrifically injured that (he) wasn’t sure if it was her. He had to ask this little girl if she had a brother, and what his name was.
“She answered. It was her.
“Laying on the floor bleeding out from her arms and back. Her beautiful long blonde hair was covered in so much blood it looked brown and her Daddy couldn’t recognise her.
“This is one of the many, many moments that tortures both of us.”
The mother said her daughter woke up in hospital with a start, terrified that the attack was still going on.
She remembers trying to protect her friend as she was attacked by Rudakubana, and the little girl watched as her friends and teacher was attacked and two people died in front of her.
“Her entire childhood has been destroyed by what she experienced and although she survived, she now has to carry that with her for the rest of her life”, she said.
She criticised Rudakubana for his lack of remorse and “abuse of power”, but added: “She has fought to get her life back. She had fought so hard.
“She’s back at school, back at dance class, back at swimming.
“He has completely failed to destroy her spirit, her amazing sense of humour, her fierceness, and her pure, beautiful hart. We are honoured to be her parents.”
Killer captured
After his arrest, Rudakubana made a series of unprompted comments including “I’m glad those kids are dead, it makes me happy”, “it’s a good thing those children are dead”, and “so happy, six-years-old. It’s a good thing they are dead, yeah.”
He had appeared set to stand trial, but on the first day he dramatically changed his pleas to guilty.
After his arrest, police discovered a cache of weapons at his home in Banks, Lancashire, including a machete and a collection of arrows.
Officers also came across a homemade substance which was later found to be ricin, a potentially deadly toxin.
The discovery of the ricin halted the police search of the family home while tests were conducted and protective equipment obtained.
Officers found equipment used for making ricin, including a pestle and mortar, two white funnels, a conical flask, and a part-full bottle of alcohol.
Ms Heer said the equipment had been bought on Amazon in 2022.
An expert found Rudakubana had obtained sufficient castor beans to produce enough ricin to kill 12,690 people.
Sweeps of Rudakubana’s electronic devices revealed his deep-seated interest in violence, and he had downloaded an Islamic extremist document called “Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual”.
Among his guilty pleas was an admission that he possessed that document, which could be useful to a terrorist, between August 29 2021 and July 30 2024.
A history of violence and threats
Rudakubana is suspected of plotting a massacre at his former High School a week before the dance class attack, but was thwarted by his father.
Cardiff-born Rudakubana, who moved to Southport in 2013, was a pupil at The Range High School in Formby, but he was expelled in 2019.
On October 4, 2019 he contacted Childline and asked: “What should I do if I want to kill somebody?”, and he later explained that he was angry at a school bully and wanted to kill them. He also confessed to taking a knife to school.
The incident was referred to police, and Rudakubana confessed to officers that he had taken a knife school ten times and would have used it if he became angry.
He was sent to a pupil referral unit and when asked why he had taken a knife to school, he replied: “To use it”.
In December 2019, Rudakubana took a taxi to his old school and attacked another pupil with a hockey stick, for which he was later convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He also had a knife in his backpack that day.
The court heard Rudakubana, who was diagnosed with autism in 2021, was referred three times to Prevent, the government’s counter extremism scheme.
In 2019, he was seen researching school shootings during an Information Technology class at school.
A second referral was made in February 2021 when Rudakubana put two pictures of Colonel Gadaffi on Instagram.
And two months later, Prevent was contacted again when the teenager was researching the London Bridge terror attack.
Ms Heer said Rudakubana dropped out of school in 2022, he was reported missing in March of that year and was carrying a small kitchen knife when he was eventually found.
“He said that he wanted to stab someone so that he would get into trouble and his Tik Tok account, which contained embarrassing videos that he was unable to delete, would be closed down by the police.
“He said he had also thought about poisoning people and/or had tried to make poison for the same reason.”
The prosecutor added that on July 22 last year, Rudakubana booked a taxi in the name of ‘Simon’ and asked to be taken to the Range High School.
“When it arrived outside his house, the defendant got into the rear seat, wearing a green hooded top with the hood up and a surgical mask”, said Ms Heer.
“He had a rucksack with him. On this occasion, however, it seems that he was spotted by his father. As the car was about to set off, the defendant’s father ran out of the house and pleaded with the driver not to take him. There was an argument, but eventually the defendant got out of the car and returned to the house.
“It is unlikely to be a coincidence that this was the last day of term, with students due to leave the school premises at 12.30pm for the summer.
“The Court may infer that this was an earlier attempt to commit offences similar to those he was to carry out at The Hart Space a week later.”
Rudakubana’s barrister called the stabbings “wicked” and suggested that the killer’s behaviour before the attacks displayed “a lack of maturity”.
“He made a transition from normal well-disciplined child to someone capable of such acts of shocking and senseless violence”, he said.
He pointed to Rudakubana’s confessions to carrying knives and wanting to be violent as signs of not understanding the consequences of his actions.
The Prime Minister said he is calling an inquiry to investigate what he suggested was a new threat of terrorism from “extreme violence carried out by loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms”.
The government is also investigating how a knife was bought on Amazon, with a view to possible new laws controlling web sales of weapons.
Rudakubana had a conviction for violence after he went to his former school while armed with a knife, and he was under the age of 18. Yet he was still free to buy the weapon online.
It has also emerged that Rudakubana was referred three times between 2019 and 2021 to the government’s counter extremism scheme Prevent but there was no significant intervention to tackle his growing obsession with violence.
Unrest erupted across the country in the wake of the Southport attack, with mosques and hotels used for asylum seekers among the locations targeted.
More than 1,000 arrests linked to disorder across the country were made, and hundreds have been charged and jailed.
Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire, could not be locked up under a whole life order because he was too young under law at the time of the offences.
After the sentencing, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "The victims were enjoying a day of youthful innocence, untainted by the twisted and unhealthy fascination with violence that drove Axel Rudakubana to carry out the atrocities he had planned in the days leading up to the event.”
She said the evidence suggested Rudakubana had researched a broad range of past atrocities and “there is no evidence that he ascribed to any particular political or religious ideology”.
“He wasn’t fighting for a cause. His only purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he succeeded in doing.
"I know that the conviction and sentencing today will not take away the distress, and trauma suffered by the victims and their families, how can it?
"These events have impacted and will continue to impact the victims and their lives every day forever.
"They won’t be able to just switch off and move on, but I hope that knowing he is now convicted of the most horrendous crime and is now convicted for the most horrendous of crimes and is now in prison will bring some small amount of comfort.”
She added: “I would like to express my gratitude to the community of Southport who came together to support families following the attack and then again when violent disorder brought chaos to the streets. A place where the community spirit has shone through at this dark time. What was already a close-knit community gained even more strength.
"We welcome the announcement of the Southport Public Inquiry. Merseyside Police will participate fully with the inquiry and approach it with candour to ensure that the horrific incident of 29 July 2024 and the events that led to it are fully understood. We will ensure that any learning and recommendations from the reviews that are ongoing and the Public Inquiry are implemented.
"Finally, I want to thank the victims and the families for the dignity and understanding they have shown since 29 July. I would also like to pay tribute to three little girls, Bebe, Elsie and Alice whose beautiful faces and names will be etched in the minds of people across Merseyside and the UK forever."
