The trial of an 18-year-old accused of killing three young girls in a stabbing spree that triggered the UK’s most violent riots in a decade is set to begin on Monday.
Axel Rudakubana faces charges for the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on July 29, 2024. The attack, which occurred in the seaside town near Liverpool, also left ten others injured, including eight children.
Rudakubana is facing a total of 16 charges, including three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and one count of possessing a blade days after the attack. He has pleaded not guilty, and the trial, which is expected to last four weeks, will begin at Liverpool Crown Court.
The stabbings shocked the UK and sparked riots in multiple towns and cities, including Southport and Liverpool. Far-right extremists were blamed for fueling the unrest by spreading false information, including claims that the alleged attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. These riots led to attacks on police, shops, hotels housing asylum seekers, and mosques, with hundreds arrested and charged.
Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan parents, had been 17 years old at the time of the attack. Restrictions on reporting his name were lifted in August to combat misinformation. Judge Andrew Menary stated that continuing the reporting ban allowed false information to spread unchecked.
Tributes to the victims have poured in from various public figures, including pop star Taylor Swift, who expressed shock after the attack and met with survivors during her London tour shows. King Charles III visited Southport to meet with survivors, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William also showed their support for the local community.
In October, additional charges were brought against Rudakubana, including the production of the biological toxin ricin and possessing information related to terrorism, such as an Al-Qaeda training manual. However, the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident. Authorities have urged caution in speculating about the motivation behind the attack and warned against spreading rumors on social media.
Rudakubana, who has appeared in court hearings without speaking, was last seen via videolink from high-security Belmarsh prison. Both the Attorney General and Merseyside police have warned against publishing material that could prejudice the trial.
