Jacob Paul
Rudakubana's father caught him leaving home in 'death suit' week before attack
Twisted child killer Axel Rudakubana may have been prevented from carrying out a school knife atrocity a week before launching his murderous Southport rampage – when his father raced from the family home and stopped him from driving away in a taxi whilst wearing his “death suit”.
The teen had just taken delivery of the deadly knives he had bought online when he booked a taxi from his home to whisk him to Range High School in Formby, where he had previously attended as a pupil.
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Outside the Liverpool court where the Southport killer unexpectedly pleaded guilty (Image: Getty)
Jacob Paul
'I stared Southport killer in the eyes - there's one thing that will haunt me for life'
The Daily Express' North-West Correspondent was one of the first people to see Southport killer face-to-face in court. He says the murder's his smirk "still gives me a chill."
Chris Riches writes: "I stared into the eyes of serial child killer Axel Rudakubana - and his twisted, manic smile will never leave me.
"I was one of the first journalists to see Rudakubana face-to-face when he was hauled into Liverpool Youth Court on Thursday 1st August - three days after his horrific knife attack spree."
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Jacob Paul
Kemi Badenoch urges Starmer to give 'full account' of what was known about Southport attacker
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on the government to issue a “complete account of who in Government knew what and when” about the case of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.
She wrote on X:“As we learn more details of Axel Rudakubana’s horrific crimes, my thoughts are first and foremost with the victims’ families,” the Tory leader said in a post on X.
“We will need a complete account of who in Government knew what and when. The public deserves the truth. This case is still in court and there are, properly, limits on what can be said at this stage.
“But once it concludes on Thursday with sentencing, there are many important questions the authorities will need to answer about the handling of this case and the flow of information.”
Jacob Paul
Starmer admits state 'failed' to protect Southport victims as UK 'rightly demands answers'
The UK will “rightly demand answers” over how the government “failed” to protect the three young girls murdered in the Southport attack, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister said he will leave “no stone unturned in that pursuit” as he scrambles for answers.
He said in a statement:"Our thoughts are with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, and the families of everyone affected, who will be saved the ordeal of a protracted trial.
"The news that the vile and sick Southport killer will be convicted is welcome.
"It is also a moment of trauma for the nation, and there are grave questions to answer as to how the state failed in its ultimate duty to protect these young girls.
"Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit.
"At the centre of this horrific event, there is still a family and community grief that is raw, a pain that not even justice can ever truly heal.
"Although no words today can ever truly convey the depths of that pain, I want the families to know that our thoughts are with them and everyone in Southport affected by this barbaric crime.
"The whole nation grieves with them."
It comes after Nigel Farage accused him of a "gigantic cover-up" after the 18-year-old attacker's links to terrorims were revealed.
Jacob Paul
Rudakubana has 'sickening' fascination with death and genocide
Axel Rudakubana has a "sickening" fascination with death and genocide, a court has heard.
The 18-year-old monster was to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday charged with 16 offences, including three counts of murder.
Prosecutors confirmed Rudakubana "was a young man with a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence. He has shown no sign of remorse."
Ahead of the trial, Rudakubana repeatedly refused to speak to the judge and even his own barrister Stanley Reiz KC - and Monday morning was no exception when he refused to confirm his name to Judge Mr Justice Goose.
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CPS prosecutors said Rudakubana has a sickening obsession with death (Image: Getty)
Jacob Paul
Around 1,200 arrested in riots sparked by Southport attack
About 1,200 people have been arrested in connection with the riots that broke out across various parts of the country in the wake of the Southport killings.
More than 400 charged, and dozens of people have been jailed.
Riots broke out across the country after the Southport attacks (Image: Getty)
Jacob Paul
Reform UK to table urgent question in parliament over alleged 'cover-up'
Nigel Farage's Reform UK will table a question on the alleged "cover-up" over the Southport attacker's links to terrorism not being revealed earlier.
Farage is set to summon Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to Parliament to explain why the public was denied the "basic truth".
He said: “I asked that question 24 hours after the murders.
“I said why are we not being told the truth? Was this man known to the authorities? We were met with a complete wall of silence.
“The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary refused to engage, Liverpool police refused to engage.
“There was nothing about what I asked that would have in any way threatened contempt of court. This is basic background information that the public was entitled to.
“I was accused of stoking and encouraging the riots, when actually the riots were happening because of the vacuum of information and crazy conspiracy theories gaining traction online.”
Jacob Paul
Southport MP urged public not to speculate on case over concerns it would be thrown out
Southport MP Patrick Hurley pleaded with the public to stop spreading rumour about the Southport murders as the case remained active.
He said: “I urge everyone to stop the speculation, avoid spreading rumours, and allow justice to take its course.
“As we begin to move to the next step of recovery, ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system and the forthcoming trial is of paramount importance."
Under the Contempt of Court Act 1981, it is illegal to publish material which risks prejudicing a trial when a case is active. Judges have previously thrown out court cases before reaching a verdict, after defence lawyers proved public speculation about the suspect may have prejudiced the jury.
Jacob Paul
Southport killer not expected to receive whole life order when he is sentenced
Axel Rudakubana is not expected to be hit with a whole life order when he is sentenced for the Southport attacks on Thursday.
A whole life order is a sentence considered for the most serious crimes which means prisoners will spend the rest of their lives jail.
They will never be considered for release unless there are exceptional compassionate grounds to warrant it.
Judges can only impose a whole life order on criminals who were aged 21 and over at the time of the offence, it is understood.
The punishment is only considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.Rudakubana was 17 years old when he murdered three girls and tried to kill several others in a rampage at a dance class in Southport in July.
Jacob Paul
Rudakubana's neighbour claims the attacker's poison killed her cat
The Southport killer's neighbour has claimed the ricin he made poisoned her cat.
Caroline McDonald, 50, was left devastated when cat died under 24 hours after police found him in a forensics tent.
Investigators discovered the biological toxin during a search of Rudakubana’s home in early August.
Mersyside police said it presented “a low risk to the public”.
A plain-clothed officer told Mrs McDonald 28 days later that her cat “kept going into the forensic tent and possibly got into the house”.
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana's father stopped him from taking taxi to school after being expelled
The father of a teenager who killed three girls at a Southport dance class stopped his son from taking a taxi to the school he was expelled from just a week before the attack, it is understood.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, was permanently excluded from secondary school over claims he was carrying a knife and later returned to attack someone with a hockey stick, the PA news agency understands.
He killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in the stabbing at the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on July 29 last year.
Aged 17 at the time of the attack, Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved with his family to the village of Banks in Lancashire about a decade ago.
Ciaran McGrath
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana 'referred to counter-terrorism police three times'
Axel Rudakubana was referred to counter-terrorism police specialists three times before he carried out a knife rampage in Southport last year.
The 18-year-old accused of killing three girls in a “meticulously planned rampage” at a dance class in Southport has pleaded guilty to the attack on the first day of his trial.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died following the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed class in The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town shortly before midday on July 29.
Ciaran McGrath
Farage wades in after guilty plea
Responding to Axel Rudakubana's guilty plea, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to murder and a terrorism charge.
"Will we ever find out the whole truth?"
Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to murder and a terrorism charge. Will we ever find out the whole truth?
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 20, 2025
Ciaran McGrath
Families not in court to hear Rudakubana's guilty plea
Mr Justice Goose said: "I am conscious of the fact the families are not here today. You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment and to each of the charges upon it."
He added: "You will understand it is inevitable the sentence to be imposed upon you will mean a life sentence equivalent will be imposed upon you.
"I will have to complete the sentencing process on that occasion."
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, confirmed the families had not attended court on Monday as it was assumed the trial would open on Tuesday.
Mr Justice Goose said he extended his apologies to the families that "for that reason they weren't here to hear him enter his pleas".
Ms Deer said she would speak to them ahead of the sentencing on Thursday.
Ciaran McGrath
Guilty pleas came as a surprise to the court
Axel Rudakubana's guilty pleas came as a surprise to the judge, lawyers and press crammed into a packed courtroom at Liverpool Crown Court.
The hearing, expected to deal with legal matters at the start of a four-week trial, instead lasted little more than 15 minutes.
After trial judge Mr Justice Goose came into court at 11.27am, unusually, Stan Reiz KC, defending Rudakubana, asked permission to approach the defendant in the dock.
After a brief, inaudible interaction with the defendant, Mr Reiz asked for the charges to be put again to Rudakubana.
Wearing a face mask, seated with his head almost touching his knees, Rudakubana replied, "guilty" to each of the 16 counts on the indictment.
There had been no inkling to anyone the defendant would change his plea.
Ciaran McGrath
Asylum hotels targeted
Rioters smashed the windows of hotels in Rotherham and Tamworth, and set a library in Liverpool on fire.
The Government announced emergency security for mosques and Sir Keir promised those involved would "face the full force of the law".
Prison sentences began to be handed out the following week and by mid-December more than 360 people had been jailed for their parts in the unrest across the country.
On August 8, there were rumours online of 100 planned protests, with gatherings anticipated in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.
Shops boarded up their windows to prevent windows being smashed.
But in most places, only peaceful anti-racism demonstrators gathered and fears of further violent disorder were quashed.
Watch in full: Police statement following rioting in Rotherham
Ciaran McGrath
'Large scale and very violent criminal activity'
The following week, when the first prison sentences were handed out for those involved, Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC described a "mob" using the "most foul and racist abuse", smashing windows, hurling bricks and setting a police van alight.
He said: "This was large scale and very violent criminal activity made much worse by the fact that it was happening only a day after entirely different and utterly tragic events.
"The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was hijacked by this callous behaviour."
Ms Kennedy said 93 officers were hurt, with injuries including fractured legs, knocked out teeth and a broken jaw.
On Wednesday morning, the clean up of Southport began, but by the evening violence had spread further afield - with demonstrations in London, Hartlepool in County Durham and Aldershot in Hampshire.
For the next week, as Rudakubana was charged, appeared before court and officially named, violent protests continued across the country.
Violence flared across the country after the murders (Image: Getty)
Ciaran McGrath
Starmer heckled as he paid respects
As floral tributes near the scene grew, so did speculation about who was behind the attack.
When Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited to pay his respects the day after the stabbing, there were hostile shouts of: "How many more Starmer? When are you going to do something?"
By that evening, things began to turn violent.
A crowd gathered outside Southport mosque - which has no known links to Rudakubana - for a planned protest on the evening of July 30.
Shouts of "English 'til I die" were heard and bricks broken off from garden walls were used as missiles.
Police officers initially seemed unprepared for the violence, without riot helmets or shields.
Sir Keir Starmer visits Southport after the tragedy (Image: Getty)
Ciaran McGrath
Murders sparked riots across the UK
Summer riots which saw violence across the country were sparked by the stabbings carried out by a teenager in Southport.
Axel Rudakubana, then 17, murdered three children and attempted to murder eight other children and two adults in his attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the seaside town on July 30.
Within hours of his attack, posts spread on the internet which claimed the suspect was a 17-year-old asylum seeker, who had come to the country by boat last year.
In the first press conference after the event, at 6.30pm that day, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told journalists the suspect was originally from Cardiff.
But, the police statement did little to quell the misinformation spreading online.
Police forces do not name suspects before they are charged and Rudakubana - still a youth at 17 - would remain anonymous even after he was charged because of his age.
Ciaran McGrath
Former child actor once appeared in advert for BBC Children In Need
At 11 years old, Rudakubana appeared dressed as Doctor Who in a television advert for BBC Children In Need, after being recruited through a casting agency, it is understood.
The now-deleted clip shows him leaving the Tardis wearing a trench coat and tie to look like the show's former star David Tennant and offering advice on how best to raise money.
How Southport stabbing suspect Axel Rudakubana dressed as Doctor Who for BBC Children in Need (Image: BBC)
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana covered his face throughout court hearings and refused to speak
His mother, father and older brother were co-operating with police and had provided witness statements.
At all of his court appearances, Rudakubana held his sweatshirt over his face and refused to speak.
When he first entered Liverpool Magistrates' Court, he was seen to smile towards members of the press before covering his face.
A profile of his father, Alphonse Rudakubana, printed in local newspaper the Southport Visiter in 2015 said he was originally from Rwanda, a country that suffered a deadly genocide in the early 1990s, and moved to the UK in 2002.
Rudakubana, the youngest son of the family, was born in Cardiff, where neighbours of the family described a "lovely couple" with a hardworking father and stay-at-home mother to "two boisterous boys".
In 2013 they moved to Banks, just a few miles outside of Southport, where Rudakubana's father trained with local martial arts clubs.
The family lived in a mid-terrace three-bedroom house in a newly-built cul-de-sac of a dozen or so properties.
Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar (Image: PA)
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana 'refused to engage with psychiatrists'
Teachers at the specialist school, which was within the borough of Sefton, were concerned about Rudakubana's behaviour and his violence towards others, it is understood.
At his first appearance at Liverpool Crown Court, Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said it was understood Rudakubana had been unwilling to leave the house and communicate with his family for a period of time.
She said: "He was seen by the psychiatrists at the police station but refused to engage with them."
The court was told he had no obvious evidence of mental health disorder which required diversion to hospital.
caption: How Southport stabbing suspect Axel Rudakubana dressed as Doctor Who for a BBC Children in (Image: BBC)
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana 'had shown violent behaviour in school'
The teenager who killed three girls in a stabbing at a Southport dance class showed violent behaviour while in high school, it is understood.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in the stabbing at the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on July 29.
Aged 17 at the time of the attack, Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved with his family to the village of Banks in Lancashire about a decade ago.
Neighbours described the family as unremarkable, but it can now be reported that teachers had concerns about his behaviour.
He was excluded from his secondary school for an incident involving a hockey stick, Express.co.uk understands.
The teenager, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, is believed to have left Range High School in Formby in around 2019, before moving to a specialist school.
Ciaran McGrath
Sentencing set for Thursday
Axel Rudakubana will be sentenced on Thursday, said Judge Mr Justice Goose.
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana also admits attempted murder of eight other children and two adults
Axel Rudakubana has also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of eight other children and to the attempted murder of Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes.
LIVERPOOL , UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 20: Heavy police presence outside Liverpool Crown Court in Live (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ciaran McGrath
Rudakubana pleads guilty to murder
Axel Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
Ciaran McGrath
What charges is Axel Rudakubana facing?
Axel Rudakubana is accused of the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes in the same incident.
Rudakubana is also charged with possession of a knife on the day of the attack, production of a biological toxin, ricin, on or before July 29, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
The alleged terrorism offence relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual, which he is said to have possessed between August 29 2021 and July 30 2024.
Ciaran McGrath
Warning issued to media ahead of trial
Last week, the Attorney General warned about the risk of publishing anything which could influence the jury.
An advisory issued on Thursday said: "While proceedings are active, the Attorney General is reminding editors, publishers and social media users that fair and accurate reporting of legal proceedings held in public in good faith is permitted.
"However, you may be at risk of being in contempt of court if you publish material or comment online that is inaccurate, unfair or involves discussion or commentary which could influence the jury's deliberations.
"This includes anything that asserts or assumes, expressly or implicitly, the guilt of Axel Rudakubana. This is due to the risk of potentially jeopardising the criminal trial.
"The Contempt of Court Act 1981 seeks to prevent any interference with the administration of justice and the right to a fair trial."
Ciaran McGrath
Who is Axel Rudakubana?
Born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, Rudakubana moved to Banks, near Southport, in about 2013.
Described as a quiet and clingy child, he lived with his older brother and parents.
Neighbours recall the family as friendly and active in their local community and church.
Axel is understood to have a background in musical theatre and experienced difficulty socialising.
Ciaran McGrath
Large police presence outside Liverpool Crown Court
A heavy police presence outside Liverpool Crown Court, where Axel Rudakubana, 18, is charged with three counts of murder, 10 attempted murders and possession of a knife, after a stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift-themed children's holiday club class last year.
There is a heavy police presence outside Liverpool Crown Court (Image: PA)
Ciaran McGrath
Axel Rudakubana trial starts today
A teenager will go on trial on Monday accused of murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Southport dance class, a crime that horrified the nation and was followed by days of nationwide rioting.
Axel Rudakubana, of Banks in Lancashire, will stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; who died following the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space shortly before midday on July 29.
He is accused of the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes in the same incident.
Rudakubana is also accused of producing the deadly poison ricin and possession of an al Qaeda training manual.
Rebecca Perring
Home Secretary says whole country is thinking of Southport families
The Home Secretary has said the whole country is thinking of the families of those killed in the Southport knife attack.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This will be a deeply traumatic and distressing time for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, the survivors, and the people of Southport, and the whole country will be thinking of them.
"The most important thing for all of us is to ensure that the legal process can take its course, to respect the difficult job the court has to do, so there is a fair trial and justice can be done.
"There will be a time at the end of this trial to discuss what happened and the action needed in response to this horrific tragedy. But for now, and until the proceedings have concluded, the priority for all of us must be to ensure justice is done."