Teenager Confesses to Murder of Southport Girls in Attack That Ignited Nationwide Riots

A British teenager, Axel Rudakubana, has pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls in a knife attack at a Southport dance event. The tragic incident sparked widespread riots across the UK, fueled by false rumors. Rudakubana also admitted to multiple charges, including attempted murder and possessing extremist materials. A life sentence is expected as he faces sentencing later this week.

Jan 20, 2025 - 06:32
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Teenager Confesses to Murder of Southport Girls in Attack That Ignited Nationwide Riots
Tributes to the victims of a knife attack are seen in Southport, England in July 2024.

On Monday, a British teenager pleaded guilty to the murder of three young girls in a knife attack in northern England in July, a crime that shocked the nation and triggered days of nationwide rioting. Axel Rudakubana, 18, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. He admitted to the murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, who had been attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport when the tragedy occurred.

Rudakubana also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of attempted murder related to the attack, as well as charges of producing the deadly poison ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual. Judge Julian Goose stated that Rudakubana would be sentenced on Thursday, with a life sentence deemed inevitable. The judge remarked that the victims' families were not present for the plea, as the prosecution’s opening was not expected until Tuesday. Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, had initially refused to speak when asked to confirm his name, as he had at prior hearings, resulting in not guilty pleas being entered on his behalf in December. However, after consulting with his lawyer, he confirmed his intention to change those pleas.

Rudakubana, a British-born citizen, was arrested shortly after the attack in the quiet seaside town north of Liverpool. Despite the discovery of the al-Qaeda manual, police have stated that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related. Following the murders, large disturbances erupted in Southport after false reports spread on social media claiming the suspected killer was a radical Islamist migrant. The unrest spread across the UK, leading to attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. Prime Minister Keir Starmer attributed the riots to far-right extremism, with more than 1,500 people arrested.

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