The 17-year-old boy suspected of murdering three young girls in a knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has been named for the first time.
Axel Rudakubana is charged with the murder of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, as well as the attempted murders of ten others and possession of a kitchen knife.
The horrifying incident unfolded on Monday at the Hart Space community centre in Southport, where a "Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop" for primary school pupils was underway.
Eleven children, including the three girls who died, suffered injuries, as well as two adults – yoga teacher Leanne Lucas and John Hayes – who are said to have tried to protect the youngsters.
Five of the wounded children remain in hospital in critical condition, police have said.
At Liverpool crown court on Thursday, Judge Andrew Menary KC, Recorder of Liverpool, ruled that the defendant could now be named.
Rudakubana turns 18 in six days time, and the judge dismissed an application for a reporting restriction that would cover less than a week.
“Idiotic rioting is, in part, fed by nonsense online, which feeds on a vacuum”, he said, referring to public disorder since the stabbings.
He said the court only has power to restrict identifying a defendant when he is a child, and added: “(He) is currently 17 but he will be 18 in less than one week’s time. Any restriction would operate for a six day period only.”
He added that a restriction order would “have little practical effect in terms of protecting the welfare of the defendant or his family, and the balance clearly comes down in favour of the public interest in allowing full reporting of proceedings.”
The defendant did not speak when asked to confirm his identity, and pulled his grey sweatshirt over his face as the hearing progressed.
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, told an earlier magistrates court hearing: “The three counts of murder are the most serious and send it to the crown court. The attempted murders and possession of a bladed article all relate to the same incident and therefore should be sent as well.”
The accused teenager, wearing a baggy grey tracksuit and black slippers, pulled his sweatshirt over his face over his face for much of the hearing and kept his head bowed.
The boy, who police have said was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport.
The judge set a provisional trial date for January 20 next year. The case is likely to be overseen by a High Court judge.
Rudakubana is due to return to court on October 25 for a plea hearing.
When announcing the charge, Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
No details of the allegations against Rudakubana were outlined in the hearings before the magistrates and crown courts in Liverpool on Thursday.
Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, but violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured.
Five men have been arrested following the violence.
After rioting broke out, Elsie’s mother, Jenni Stancombe, wrote on Facebook: “This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
“The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said rioters had “hijacked” a vigil for victims and will “feel the full force of the law”, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the rioting as “violent attacks from thugs on the streets”, which she branded “appalling”.
On Wednesday, a clean up operation took place outside the mosque, with residents coming together to clear roads where fires had been set and rebuild walls which had been knocked down.
Police called in support from neighbouring forces in case of further disorder, but the seaside town appeared to remain quiet on Wednesday evening, however unrest developed in other areas of the country.
Protesters, chanting “you’re not English any more” and throwing bottles and cans at police in riot gear, were detained on Whitehall.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Over 100 people have been arrested for offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions.
“Some officers suffered minor injuries.”
In Hartlepool, County Durham, a police car was set alight and glass bottles and eggs were thrown at officers.
Chief Superintendent David Sutherland said: “At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week.
“Our officers are facing missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests as they remain in the area to protect the safety of those living in the community.”
Rudakubana has not entered any pleas to three charges of murder, ten charges of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a bladed article.
He has been remanded into youth detention accommodation as criminal proceedings progress.
