UK teen gets 52-year sentence for triple murder at Taylor Swift-themed event

Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls and the attempted murder of 10 other children.

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A British teenager, Axel Rudakubana, has been sentenced to at least 52 years in prison for the brutal killing of three young girls and the stabbing of 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport, England, last July.

The attack, which shocked the nation, was described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as one of the "most harrowing moments" in Britain’s history.

Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, as well as the attempted murder of 10 other children.

The court heard that the teenage assailant was obsessed with violence and genocide, and two of the victims sustained injuries that were deemed “sadistic in nature” by the prosecution.

Liverpool Crown Court was shown disturbing video footage of the attack, with victims fleeing the venue in terror. In a heart-wrenching moment, one bloodied girl collapsed outside the building.

Leanne Lucas, a 36-year-old yoga teacher who organized the event and was herself stabbed five times, said in court, "He targeted us because we were women and girls, vulnerable and easy prey."

Prosecutor Deanna Heer revealed that Rudakubana had a long-standing obsession with violence and had kept disturbing material, including an al-Qaeda training manual, and had been involved in the production of ricin, a deadly poison.

The teenager’s phone and computer revealed a deep fascination with mass killings, but there was no indication that the attack was politically or religiously motivated. As a result, the murders were not classified as terrorism.

Despite being diagnosed with autism, Rudakubana’s lawyer, Stan Reiz, argued that there was no mental disorder to explain his actions.

The court also heard that Rudakubana had previously shown violent tendencies, including carrying knives to school and attempting to harm other pupils.

In 2019, he contacted a helpline asking, "What should I do if I want to kill somebody?" Rudakubana had also been referred to the counter-radicalisation program "Prevent" for researching school shootings and displaying concerning behavior.

During the sentencing, Judge Julian Goose noted that while Rudakubana could not receive a full life sentence due to his age at the time of the killings, his chances of release were slim.

The judge emphasized the “unprecedented and unconscionable” nature of the attack on children, particularly girls.

In response to the atrocity, the UK government has announced a public inquiry into the failures to act on Rudakubana’s early warning signs.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, "After one of the most harrowing moments in our country's history, we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve."