A teenager charged with the brutal stabbing of three young girls and the injury of ten others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport has been named as Axel Rudakubana. The 17-year-old, who will turn 18 in six days, was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff in 2006 before moving to the village of Banks in Lancashire in 2013.
Rudakubana is accused of murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, in a horrific attack on July 29. He is also charged with the attempted murders of eight more children, dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes.
Up until now, Rudakubana’s identity was protected due to his age, but after a successful application to the judge by the Mail, his name can now be reported. Judge Andrew Menary KC made the decision to balance the public interest in accurate reporting with the risks to the suspect’s family and himself.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC described the attack as an “attempt to rob him by the occupants of a car that followed him home from a nightclub.”
Far-right mobs took to the streets of Southport and other UK cities this week after misinformation about the suspect’s identity was spread by a fake news website. Russian state media falsely claimed Rudakubana had arrived by boat to the UK last year and was on an MI6 watch list, leading to violent riots with dozens of police officers injured and emergency vehicles set on fire.
To quell tensions, Judge Menary revealed Rudakubana’s identity. He stated, “Continuing to prevent the full reporting has the disadvantage of allowing others to spread misinformation in a vacuum.”
As the suspect arrived at the court, he was met by dozens of people shouting, with one man needing to be held back by police officers. Rudakubana spent the entire 55-minute hearing covering his face with his grey sweatshirt and at times rocking back and forth.
Judge Menary set a provisional trial date at Liverpool Crown Court for January 20 next year. Rudakubana will next appear in court on October 25 for a plea and trial preparation hearing and will be remanded in youth detention accommodation until then.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy stated, “Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation, and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and Counter Terrorism Policing North West.”
Floral tributes, balloons, and soft toys have been left at the scene of the stabbings on Hart Street, Southport. The local community has been left in shock and mourning, with many calling for justice for the young victims.
The misinformation spread by fake news websites led to violent riots in Southport and beyond, resulting in numerous injuries and significant property damage. In response, residents have come together to clean up and restore order, with the seaside town remaining quiet on Wednesday evening despite ongoing unrest in other parts of the country.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rioters, stating they had “hijacked” a vigil for the victims and would “feel the full force of the law.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the rioting as “violent attacks from thugs on the streets,” calling them “appalling.”
As legal proceedings move forward, the public and the affected families await justice for the tragic events that took the lives of three innocent children and forever changed the lives of many others.
