LONDON — An 18-year-old male has been charged in connection with a tragic incident where three young girls lost their lives and ten others sustained injuries during a stabbing spree at a dance class themed around Taylor Swift. He appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court via a video link from prison on Wednesday to face additional charges, including one related to a deadly poison and another for terrorism due to possession of an al-Qaida manual.
The suspect, Axel Rudakubana, is already facing charges for the murders of the three girls, allegedly committed on July 29. Following a police search of his residence, he was charged with producing ricin, a potent toxin often sourced from the seeds of the castor bean plant. It’s recognized as one of the most lethal poisons globally, having no known antidote, and inhibits the ability of cells to produce proteins, leading to their death.
Authorities have underscored that the stabbings in the town of Southport have not been designated as a “terrorist incident,” as the underlying motive remains unclear. Additional charges regarding the manufacturing of a poison and the possession of a terrorism-related manual were levied against Rudakubana on Tuesday.
The violent attack unfolded during the first week of summer vacation when approximately 20 young girls were attending a dance class at Hart Space, a community center that often hosts various local events. Rudakubana faces three charges of murder for the deaths of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. Furthermore, he has been hit with 10 counts of attempted murder for the injuries inflicted on eight children and two adults. Police acknowledged the quick actions of Leanne Lucas, the class instructor, and John Hayes, a nearby business employee who attempted to shield the children during the attack.
This incident has also garnered attention from far-right groups, fueling anger toward immigrants and Muslims, following misinformation shared on social media that incorrectly identified the suspect as an asylum seeker who arrived in Britain via boat.
In the wake of a memorial vigil for the victims, tensions escalated as rioters targeted a nearby mosque, hurling bricks and bottles at law enforcement and even setting a police van ablaze. The unrest continued for a week, leading to widespread rioting throughout England and Northern Ireland. Authorities reported over 1,200 arrests linked to the disturbances, with many individuals currently serving jail time.
Police indicated that Rudakubana was born in Wales to parents from Rwanda and noted that he was raised in a Christian household, as reported by British media.
