Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana pleads guilty to murdering three girls at dance class

The teenager accused of killing three girls in a knife attack at a dance class in Southport in July last year has pleaded guilty to their murders.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Lancashire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on what was due to be the first day of his trial on Monday.

He refused to stand or confirm his name but then pleaded guilty to the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

He also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife over the attack in the Merseyside town on 29 July.

Eight other children, aged between seven and 13, were injured in the mass stabbing at The Hart Space, along with yoga instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Rudakubana was aged 17 at the time of the attack, which has not been declared terror-related, according to Merseyside Police.

He further pleaded guilty to charges of producing ricin and possessing an al Qaeda training manual allegedly found in searches of his home in Banks, Lancashire, in the following days.

The judge, Mr Justice Goose said he will sentence the teenager on Thursday.

Rudakubana remained seated in the dock as he entered the guilty pleas, while none of the victims’ family members were in court as the trial had been expected to open on Tuesday.

Wearing a grey tracksuit and surgical face mask, he showed no emotion as he was taken down to the cells surrounded by four dock officers and an an intermediary.

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