In a shocking development, British teen Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls and attempting to kill 10 others during a violent stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last summer in Southport, UK. His surprise plea came just as jury selection was set to begin at Liverpool Crown Court.
The tragic attack occurred on July 29, the first day of summer vacation, when a group of young girls were attending a dance class at the Hart Space facility. What was meant to be a fun day of yoga and Taylor Swift music turned into a nightmare when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, stormed the class and began stabbing the children and their instructor. The brutal rampage left three girls dead and several others seriously injured.
Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle described the attack as “unspeakable” and said it left a lasting impact on both the community and the nation. She emphasized how a day of innocence and fun turned into “the darkest horror” due to Rudakubana’s calculated actions.
Rudakubana, who was just days from turning 18, refused to speak throughout the court proceedings until he was read the 16-count indictment. He then pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and additional charges involving the possession of ricin and an al-Qaeda manual. He is now facing life imprisonment.
The victims include Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, who were all killed in the attack. Eight other girls, aged 7 to 13, and their instructor Leanne Lucas were wounded. A total of 15 other girls, ranging from 5 years old, were unharmed.
Despite the horrific nature of the crime, police have not classified the attack as terrorism due to the unclear motive behind the killings. However, several months after his arrest, Rudakubana was charged with additional offenses, including the production of ricin and possessing materials likely useful for terrorism, after authorities discovered a manual on his computer and ricin during a search of his family’s home.
The aftermath of the attack saw widespread rioting across England and Northern Ireland. Far-right activists, fueled by misinformation about the suspect’s background, incited violent protests. The unrest led to over 1,200 arrests, with many individuals sentenced to long prison terms.
In a show of solidarity, King Charles III and Taylor Swift separately met with some of the victims’ families following the tragedy.