London – A British teenager pleaded guilty Monday to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 others in what a prosecutor called “meticulously planned.” stabbing rampage during Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer. Axel Rudakubana18, entered a surprise plea as jury selection was due to begin at the start of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The stabbing attacks of July 29 sent shockwaves across the United Kingdom and led to a week of widespread riots in parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was actually born in Wales.
The rampage happened on the first day of summer vacation, when the little girls at Hart Space, a facility hidden behind a row of houses, were in class learning yoga and dancing to Taylor Swift songs. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, entered and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the northern seaside town of Southport. west of England.
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“This is an indescribable attack, which has left a lasting mark on our community and the nation with its savagery and senselessness,” said Chief Deputy Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle. “A day that should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.
Prosecutors have not said what they believe drove Rudakubana – who was days shy of his 18th birthday – to commit the atrocities, but Doyle said it was clear he had “a sickening and supported for death and violence.”
Rudakubana had systematically refused to speak in court and did it again when asked to identify himself at the start of the proceedings. But he broke his silence when he was read the 16-count indictment and asked to plead guilty, answering “guilty” to each charge.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and additional charges related to possession of ricin, a poison, and possession of an Al-Qaeda manual.
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Rudakubana faces life in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, Judge Julian Goose said.
Defense attorney Stanley Reiz said he would present the judge with information about Rudakubana’s mental health that could be relevant to his sentence.
Surviving victims and family members of those killed were absent from court because they expected to arrive Tuesday for opening statements.
Goose asked the prosecutor to apologize on his behalf for not being present to hear Rudakubana plead guilty.
He pleaded guilty to the murders of 9-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and 6-year-old Bebe King.
Eight other girls, aged between 7 and 13, were injured, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes, who worked at a nearby business and intervened. Fifteen other girls, barely 5 years old, were present in class but unharmed. Under a court order, none of the surviving daughters can be named.
King Charles III and Taylor Swift met separately with some of the victims’ families after the attack.
Police said the stabbings were not considered acts of terrorism because the motive was not known.
Several months after his arrest at the crime scene, Rudakubana was charged with additional counts of producing a biological toxin, ricin, and possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism to have the manual in a document on his computer.
Police said they found the evidence during a search of his family’s home in a nearby village.
The day after the killings – and shortly after a peaceful vigil for the victims – a violent group attacked a mosque near the crime scene and threw bricks and bottles at officers and set police vehicles on fire.
The riots then spread to dozens of other cities the following week when groups of mostly men mobilized by far-right activists on social media clashed with police in violent protests and attacked people. hotels housing migrants.
More than 1,200 people have been arrested over the unrest and hundreds have been sentenced to up to nine years in prison.