Axel Rudakubana Pleads Guilty to Triple Murder at Taylor Swift Dance Class

Murder at Dance Class: Axel Rudakubana’s Shocking Guilty Plea

On January 20, 2025, 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to the murders of three young girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. The victims were 6-year-old Bebe King, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and 9-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. Rudakubana also admitted to ten counts of attempted murder, producing the deadly poison ricin, and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual.

The attack, which occurred on July 29, 2024, left five additional children and two adults injured. Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, had been referred to the UK’s anti-terror program, Prevent, three times prior to the incident but was not considered a terrorism risk.

Following the attack, false rumors about Rudakubana’s background led to a week of riots, resulting in mass arrests and public outcry over perceived government failures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to address questions regarding the state’s inability to protect the victims.

Rudakubana is scheduled for sentencing on January 23, 2025, and faces a mandatory life sentence. The case has intensified discussions about the effectiveness of anti-terror programs and the need for improved measures to prevent such tragedies.