Man Pleads Guilty to Stabbing 3 Children to Death at Taylor Swift-Themed Event

The man accused of fatally stabbing three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class event has pleaded guilty to murder.

On Monday, Jan. 20, Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted to killing Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, and Bebe King, 6 on July 29, 2024, as his trial began at Liverpool Crown Court in England, according to the BBC and U.K. newspapers The Independent and The Guardian.

Rudakubana, of Banks in Lancashire, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder, per the BBC.

He also pled guilty to two terror-related charges after being accused of possessing the poison ricin and for having an Al Qaeda training manual, according to the the outlet.

The stabbings took place at a Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space community center in Southport, England, during the victims’ summer vacation from school.

King and Stancombe died in the attack, while da Silva Aguiar later died from her injuries in the hospital, per The Independent. A further five children and two adults were treated in the hospital following the attack, according to the outlet.

Per The Guardian, Rudakubana — who was born in Wales to Rwandan Christian parents — was age 17 at the time of the stabbings. At Monday’s trial, he wore a surgical face mask and refused to confirm his identity when asked by the judge.

Rudakubana’s attorney, Stanley Reiz KC, asked for the charges to be put to his client again, before he pleaded guilty “in a barely audible voice,” according to the outlet.

The teenager — who previously pleaded not guilty to the crimes last month — is expected to be sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 23, per the publication.

Trial judge, Mr. Justice Goose, said, “You will understand it is inevitable the sentence to be imposed upon you will mean a life sentence,” according to Sky News.

Speaking outside court following Rudakubana’s guilty plea, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said, per the Manchester Evening News, “This was an unspeakable attack – one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness.”

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“At the start of the school holidays, a day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage,” Doyle continued, adding that Rudakubana was a “young man with a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence,” and had “shown no sign of remorse.”

“The prosecution was determined to prove his guilt and I am deeply grateful that today’s plea has spared the families at the heart of this case the pain of having to relive their ordeal through a trial,” Doyle added.

“Today, our thoughts are with all those whose lives were altered by what happened on that day,” she continued. “Most of all, we think of Elsie, Bebe, and Alice – the three beautiful young girls whose lives were cut short – and wish strength and courage to the families who loved and cherished them.”

The day after the stabbings, Swift, 35, shared a message on her Instagram Stories.

The singer wrote in the July 30 post, “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,” she added. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”