Teen who stabbed girls at Taylor Swift-themed dance pleads guilty
UK-born teenager’s guilty plea comes as jury selection was set to begin in Liverpool Crown Court
A British teen pleaded guilty Monday to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 other people in what a prosecutor said was a “meticulously planned” stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.
The Attack
The crime shocked Britain, and misinformation about the attacker sparked anti-immigrant violence across the country. The government announced it would hold an independent public inquiry into the attack, which was carried out by a U.K.-born teenager whose troubling fascination with violence saw him reported to authorities years before the crime.
The Suspect
Axel Rudakubana, 18, entered the surprise guilty pleas as jury selection had been expected to begin at the start of his trial in Liverpool Crown Court.
The Investigation
The July 29 stabbings led to a week of widespread rioting across parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
Government Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Rudakubana’s conviction, but said it was “a moment of trauma for the nation.”
Public Inquiry
U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that a public inquiry would “get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change.”
The Victims
The attack occurred on the first day of summer vacation when the little girls at the Hart Space, a sanctuary hidden behind a row of houses, were in a class to learn yoga and dance to the songs of Taylor Swift. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, intruded and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.
Sentence
Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday, Justice Julian Goose said.
Conclusion
The guilty plea of Axel Rudakubana brings an end to a tragic and disturbing chapter in British history. The attack on the Taylor Swift-themed dance class was a senseless and brutal act that left three young girls dead and many more injured. The government’s decision to hold a public inquiry into the attack is a step towards ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again.
FAQs
Q: Who is Axel Rudakubana?
A: Axel Rudakubana is the 18-year-old British teenager who pleaded guilty to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England.
Q: What was the motive behind the attack?
A: The motive behind the attack is still unknown.
Q: What was the reaction of the government to the attack?
A: The government announced it would hold an independent public inquiry into the attack and welcomed Rudakubana’s conviction.
Q: What is the sentence for Rudakubana?
A: Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday.
