LONDON — An 18-year-old accused of fatally stabbing three young girls and injuring ten others during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England has remained silent during his latest court proceedings. On Wednesday, not guilty pleas were entered for Axel Rudakubana, who has consistently chosen not to speak in any court appearances since the incident.
During a virtual court session held at Liverpool Crown Court from a London prison, Rudakubana was formally charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder. The allegations also included charges for possessing the deadly poison ricin and having an al-Qaida manual. Justice Julian Goose directed a clerk to record the pleas while Rudakubana showcased no verbal response, instead opting to sway slightly and lean forward as the serious charges against him were recited.
This court appearance was distinct from previous ones as Rudakubana did not employ his sweatshirt to cover his face. A brief smile crossed his face when informed that the remarks made in court were audible to him in prison; however, the judge took note of his continued silence. The proceedings are set to progress to trial on January 20.
Rudakubana is facing charges related to the attack that took place on July 29 in Southport, a coastal town in Northern England. The assailant is accused of murdering Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, while also wounding ten others at what was meant to be a joyful summer dance event. The tragedy incited widespread rioting throughout England and Northern Ireland over the course of a week, exacerbated by far-right groups. More than 300 police officers suffered injuries, and there were aggressive assaults on shelters housing migrants during the unrest.
The violence erupted when Rudakubana was mistakenly identified as an asylum seeker who had recently arrived in the UK by boat. Despite being born in Wales to Rwandan parents, Rudakubana’s name became associated with the turmoil, leading to more than 1,200 arrests connected to the disturbances that followed, with hundreds receiving prison sentences of up to nine years.
A critical report released recently highlighted shortcomings within police forces in recognizing the potential for violent disorder, particularly following earlier incidents across the UK. Compiled by the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, the report pointed out deficiencies in monitoring social media and deep web intelligence as potential areas of concern.
In October, Rudakubana faced additional charges related to the production of ricin, a biological toxin, and for possessing materials that could support the preparation for an act of terrorism, due to an al-Qaida-related manual discovered on his computer. Although police have investigated the stabbings, they have yet to designate the incident as terrorism, as the underlying motives remain unclear.