Axel Rudakubana, set to turn 18 on Wednesday (7 August), faces accusations of murdering three young girls, Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, with a kitchen knife at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party. He also stands charged with the attempted murder of eight other children during a summer event in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday. Dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and bystander Johnathan Hayes, 63, both injured in the attack, are still in hospital.
Rudakubana, described as “quiet and introverted,” appeared in court today, smiling at reporters before hiding his face in his jumper and remaining silent. The judge lifted an anonymity order to prevent further rioting, which had already erupted in various locations across England.
🇬🇧🇬🇧Here are the footage of suspect Axel Muganwa Rudakubana in the UK. 🇬🇧
A teenager charged with murdering three children and harming 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport has been named as Axel Rudakubana.
The 17-year-old, who turns 18 in just six days… pic.twitter.com/MHzds9uTiB— GODFATHER (@Akasamutwe250) August 1, 2024
During court hearings, Rudakubana, diagnosed with autism, rocked side to side and refused to confirm his name and address. The court heard he had been unwilling to leave his house or communicate with family for some time. Neighbours in Banks, Lancashire, said he was often heard singing at home and had once appeared in a West End musical, though many claimed they had never seen him in the seven years his family lived there.
Locals described the family as deeply involved in the church, with Rudakubana labelled a “quiet choir boy.” He had been part of a school drama group that performed in the West End and had trained in Karate with his father before moving north.
Keir Starmer just made an address where he labels everyone upset about the murder of 3 little girls by Axel Muganwa Rudakubana as “thugs” and gives police more powers to prevent protests, even ushering in facial recognition to do so! pic.twitter.com/buXMxDPBfm
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) August 1, 2024
A former neighbour in Cardiff described him as an introverted child who was very attached to his mother, contrasting with his more outgoing older brother. The family had relocated to northern England when Rudakubana’s father secured a job as a taxi driver in 2013.
Judge Andrew Menary, after hearing legal arguments, decided against protecting Rudakubana’s identity, citing his imminent 18th birthday and the need to prevent misinformation. Violent protests had already broken out in Southport and other locations, causing fear among residents near Rudakubana’s home.
Social media threats of protests outside Rudakubana’s house prompted police patrols in the area. One local resident highlighted the terror among neighbours due to misinformation online, including false addresses being shared. He pleaded for peace, noting that the suspect’s parents would not return to the address.
With Rudakubana’s identity now public, police maintained a presence outside his home. Alder Hey hospital announced that two of the child victims had been discharged, with one parent expressing gratitude for the medical care and local support. An Alder Hey spokesperson confirmed that five children remain in stable condition, offering heartfelt sympathies to all affected by the tragic event.