18-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Murdering Three Young Girls in Southport Attack
An 18-year-old man, Axel Rudakubana, has pleaded guilty to the murder of three young girls during a knife attack in Southport, England last summer. The incident, which shocked the nation, occurred on July 29, 2024, when the attacker struck during a dance class set to Taylor Swift's music. The victims, aged six, seven, and nine, were identified as Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar.
In addition to the three murder charges, Rudakubana faces 16 counts in total, including the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults. He also admitted to possessing deadly poison and a manual from the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
The trial, which started unexpectedly with his admission of guilt, has garnered significant media attention. The severity of the case has led to heightened tensions, resulting in several days of far-right and anti-Muslim riots across the country, fueled by misinformation regarding the attacker’s background. Although Rudakubana was born in the UK to Rwandan parents, false claims circulated that he was a Muslim asylum seeker. Sentencing for Rudakubana is expected to be announced on Thursday.
Weekly Newsletter
News summary by melangenews