A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport has been named as Axel Rudakubana. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, where a judge lifted reporting restrictions, allowing his identity to be disclosed.
Rudakubana is charged with the murders 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 attack occurred on Monday at the Hart Space community centre during a workshop for primary school pupils.
Judge Andrew Menary KC ruled that naming the defendant was in the public interest, noting that Rudakubana turns 18 in less than a week, making any restriction short-lived. The judge also referenced “idiotic rioting” fuelled by online misinformation since the stabbings.
The defendant did not speak to confirm his identity and covered his face with his sweatshirt during the hearing. A provisional trial date has been set for January 20 next year, with a plea hearing scheduled for October 25.
Following the attack, violence erupted in Southport, with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured. Elsie’s mother, Jenni Stancombe, appealed for calm on Facebook, praising police as “heroic”. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rioters, saying they would “feel the full force of the law”.
