Teenager jailed for killing three children at a dance class and trying to kill ten others

A teenager who killed three young girls and attempted to kill ten others, including eight children at a Southport dance class has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 52 years before he can be considered for release.

Axel Rudakubana, then 17, entered the Hart Space studio on Hart Street Southport on July 29 last year and carried out a meticulously planned campaign of murder and violence.

Twenty-six children, aged between 6 and 13 were in the studio for a Taylor Swift themed dance workshop for the summer holidays.

When Rudakabana entered, the children were gathered around tables making bracelets and singing songs.

Despite the warm weather, he was wearing his hood up and a face mask. He was carrying a kitchen knife with a 20cm-long blade, which he had bought online some days before.

Without saying a word, he grabbed the child nearest to him and stabbed her. He then moved through the room, systematically stabbing as many people as he could before they could escape.

Rudakubana managed to stab 11 children, three of whom he killed. They were Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged 7,  Bebe King, aged aged 6 years, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, aged 9.

The injuries suffered by Elsie and Bebe were so severe they had no chance of survival and died inside the building. Alice managed to run outside with the other children but soon collapsed. She was taken to hospital but died the following morning.

As the other children ran from the studio, he chased them, stabbing them in the back as they tried to get away.

In addition to the children, he also stabbed Leanne Lucas, the yoga teacher who had organised the workshop, and Jonathan Hayes, who was working in the office next door, both of whom had tried to intervene and protect the children.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Today Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 52 years for the dreadful crimes he committed on 29 July 2024 in Hart Street, Southport.

“Firstly, I would like to take this moment to pay tribute to the victims and their families in this harrowing case. They have shown tremendous dignity and composure in the face of unbelievable horror.

“Many of our cases have tragedy, difficulty and trauma, but this case is one of the most harrowing that I, as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for this area, have ever come across.

“Three beautiful girls - Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar lost their lives on a day that should have been filled with happiness. When Rudakubana entered the room, they were singing and making friendship bracelets.

“Axel Rudakubana is a murderer, and displayed unrelenting savagery as he carried out a meticulously planned rampage of murder and violence. His purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable, no doubt in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he did.

“Three days ago, he pleaded guilty to all sixteen counts against him, saving the families of the victims the trauma of reliving the events of that day in a trial. But he has never expressed any remorse, only cowardice in his refusal to face the families whose lives he has forever changed.

“This has been an extremely difficult case for the prosecution team. They have had to work through some harrowing footage and evidence. I would like to thank them for their perseverance and determination to achieve justice for the victims and their families.

“This sentencing brings to an end this case, but the events of that day will leave a tragic legacy that will unfortunately endure for many years.”

Axel Rudakubana left his family home in Old School Close, Banks, at 11.10am that day and travelled to Hart Street in a taxi. He refused to pay the driver when they got there and headed towards the dance studio.

Within just 30 seconds, screams could be heard coming from within, followed by children fleeing from the building.

CCTV showed a child trying to leave the building, only to be pulled back inside by the defendant. She is subsequently seen stumbling from the building and collapsing outside. Soon afterwards, one of the workers at the garage next door, picked her up and carried her away.

By this time a number of people had called 999. Police quickly arrived on the scene and arrested Rudakubana. On 31 July 2024 he was charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a knife.

When searching his home address, it became clear that the incident at The Hart Space was no random act of violence but a planned and premeditated attempt to commit indiscriminate mass murder.

A number of weapons were recovered, including the biological toxin ricin, which the defendant had produced in his bedroom.
Searches of his laptop and phone showed a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence.  Also found was a document entitled “Military studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al Quaeda Training Manual”.

This is an academic paper containing the text of the Al Quaeda Training Manual, which contains advice and instruction on committing acts of terror, including the use of poisons and instructions on how to carry out a knife attack.

On 28 October 2024 he was further charged possession of a biological toxin, Ricin and possession of a document for terrorist purposes.

He initially denied all of the charges but on the first day of his trial, 20 January 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, he pleaded guilty.