Axel Rudakubana pleads guilty to Southport murders

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old, pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls—Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven—during a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. The incident occurred on July 29, resulting in a tragic scene as children enjoyed their summer holidays. In addition to the murders, Rudakubana admitted to attempting to murder eight other children and two adults, as well as possessing a kitchen knife and producing biological toxins, specifically ricin. He also faced charges related to a document associated with terrorism, a PDF titled 'Military Studies in the Jihad Against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.' His guilty pleas came on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, and he is set to be sentenced later this week. Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle described the attack as an 'unspeakable' act that left a lasting impact on the community.