Man Who Fatally Stabbed 3 Children at Taylor Swift-Themed Event Is Sentenced to Life in Prison
Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, were killed in the July 2024 attack in Southport, England
The man who fatally stabbed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class last summer in Southport, England has learned his fate.
Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 52 years after admitting to his role in the the deadly July 2024 attack, Merseyside Police announced Thursday, Jan. 23 in a post on X. The Associated Press, CNN, and BBC also reported the news of the sentencing.
On Monday, Jan. 20, Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty in Liverpool Crown Court to killing Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, on July 29, 2024, at a Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space community center.
"We want to pay tribute to Bebe, Elsie and Alice, who will never be forgotten, and the children and adults who suffered serious injuries, and those young victims who were severely traumatised by what they witnessed on that day," police said in the X post.
Related: Man Pleads Guilty to Stabbing 3 Children to Death at Taylor Swift-Themed Event
Courtesy of Merseyside Police
From left: Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar"I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child – all 26 of them," Judge Julian Goose said during the sentencing hearing, per the BBC.
Rudakubana, of Banks in Lancashire, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder, the BBC reported. He also pleaded guilty to two terror-related charges after being accused of possessing the poison ricin and for possessing an Al-Qaeda training manual, according to the outlet.
Press Association via AP
Axel RudakubanaRelated: 'Always Our Princess:' Child Victims of Southport Stabbing at Taylor Swift-Themed Event Identified
Rudakubana was 17 when he carried out the stabbing, which also wounded eight other children and two adults, including event organizer and yoga teacher Leanne Lucas. The class was advertised for children between the ages 6 and 11, The Telegraph reported.
One day after the stabbings, more than 50 police officers in Southport were injured when a riot broke out during a vigil for the victims, Merseyside police previously said.
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The New York Times reported that disinformation about the suspect’s identity – which was not released at the time — was amplified online by far-right accounts. Riots broke out across England and hundreds of people were arrested.
Following the attack, Swift shared a message on her Instagram Stories, writing, "The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock... The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders."
"These were just little kids at a dance class," the singer added. "I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families."
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