Teen pleads guilty to murder of three girls at Southport Taylor Swift themed dance class

Axel Rudakubana accused of attacking 3 girls at dance class admitted to the crimes on the first day of his trial.

The 18-year-old accused of fatally attacking three girls at a Southport dance class admitted to the crimes on the first day of his trial, speaking in court for the first time.

Axel Rudakubana, from Banks, Lancashire, was scheduled to face trial at Liverpool Crown Court, charged with 16 offenses, including three counts of murder.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space, a business park venue, on July 29, 2024.

The defendant, who was 17 at the time of the incident, admitted to murdering the girls, attempting to kill eight other children whose identities are protected, the class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes.

He also pleaded guilty to carrying a knife on the day of the attack, producing the biological toxin ricin before July 29, and possessing material likely to aid terrorism.

The terrorism charge relates to a PDF titled *Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual*, which he allegedly had between August 2021 and July 2024.

The ricin and document were discovered during a search of the home he shared with his parents, originally from Rwanda, on Old School Close.

Despite the document's discovery, Merseyside Police previously stated the Southport attack has not been classified as a terrorist act.

Rudakubana, in a grey prison tracksuit and facemask, entered guilty pleas after consulting briefly with his barrister, Stan Reiz KC.

When asked to stand and confirm his name in court, Rudakubana remained seated and silent, nodding in response to his barrister's instructions.

The judge, Mr. Justice Goose, confirmed with Mr. Reiz that Rudakubana had chosen not to speak.

Mr. Reiz requested the charges be read again, after which Rudakubana responded “guilty” to each of the 16 counts, with the clerk repeating his plea each time.