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Home News Teenager Pleads Guilty To Murdering Three Girls At Southport Event; Public Inquiry Announced

Teenager Pleads Guilty To Murdering Three Girls At Southport Event; Public Inquiry Announced

by Celia

A teenager from the UK shocked the court on Monday by pleading guilty to murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last July. The announcement came just before his trial was set to begin, and the government has since pledged to launch an inquiry into the case, which led to widespread riots across the country.

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Axel Rudakubana, 18, confessed to the murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9. His admission removed the need for a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. In addition to the murders, Rudakubana also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of producing the deadly poison ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual.

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The government responded swiftly to the shocking events, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing a public inquiry. He described the incident as “a moment of trauma for the nation” and emphasized the need for answers about how the authorities failed to protect the young victims.

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Authorities revealed that Rudakubana had been referred to Prevent, the UK’s counter-radicalisation program, three times before the attack. Despite this, no action had been taken. He had also been in contact with various agencies, including the police, mental health services, and the courts. “It is clear that this was a young man with a disturbing and violent fixation on death,” said Ursula Doyle from the Crown Prosecution Service. “He has shown no remorse.”

At the time of the attack, Rudakubana was 17. During his earlier court hearings, he had refused to confirm his name, leading to “not guilty” pleas being entered on his behalf. However, after discussing with his lawyer, he admitted to the killings. The victims were attending a summer vacation dance event when the attack occurred.

Doyle described the attack as a “meticulously planned rampage” carried out while innocent children were enjoying a carefree dance workshop and making friendship bracelets. Judge Julian Goose, who is overseeing the case, confirmed that Rudakubana would be sentenced on Thursday, with a life sentence expected.

Rudakubana, born in the UK to Rwandan immigrants, was arrested soon after the attack in Southport, a small seaside town near Liverpool. While police found an al-Qaeda manual in his possession, they have stated that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related. The motive behind the killings remains unclear.

The murders sparked widespread unrest in Southport, fueled by false reports circulating on social media that the suspect was a radical Islamist migrant. This misinformation led to violent protests and attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK. Prime Minister Starmer condemned the far-right violence, which led to over 1,500 arrests.

According to The Guardian, Rudakubana, the son of devout Christian parents, had been referred to Prevent over concerns he was researching online material related to school shootings and past terrorist attacks. However, he was not considered a terrorism risk.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also called for the public inquiry, urging that the families of the victims receive answers about how this tragic event could have occurred and why their children had to suffer such a fate.

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