Teen Sentenced to 52 Years for Taylor Swift-Themed Dance Class Massacre
Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old from Southport, England, has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the brutal murders of three young girls and the attempted murder of 10 others during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024. The attack, described as “pre-meditated mass murder,” shocked the nation and left families and communities devastated. Rudakubana pleaded guilty to the murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, as well as charges of producing ricin, possessing terrorist material, and carrying a knife.
The court heard harrowing details of the attack, including how Rudakubana targeted the youngest and most vulnerable, stabbing children as they tried to flee. Two of the victims suffered injuries described as “sadistic in nature.” Rudakubana showed no remorse, telling police after his arrest, “I’m glad those kids are dead, it makes me happy.” He was removed from court twice during sentencing for disruptive behavior, claiming he was unwell.
Rudakubana’s history of violence and obsession with genocide and mass murder was revealed during the trial. He had been referred to the UK’s counter-terrorism Prevent program three times but was not deemed a high-risk threat. Police found weapons, including a machete and crossbow, as well as ricin, a deadly poison, at his home. He had researched car bombs, detonators, and nitric acid, and his devices contained images of violent conflicts and atrocities.
Judge Julian Goose described the attack as “one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history” and said it was unlikely Rudakubana would ever be released. However, due to his age at the time of the crime (17), he could not be given a whole-life sentence. This has sparked calls for legal reform, with Southport MP Patrick Hurley and others urging a review of the sentence, arguing it does not reflect the severity of the crimes.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack an “atrocity” and pledged to deliver changes to prevent such tragedies in the future. The case has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Prevent program and the need for broader counter-terrorism measures to address individuals motivated by extreme violence without a clear ideological cause.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana sentenced to 52 years in jail for attacks - live updates
Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls, 10 attempted murders, producing ricin, possessing terrorist material, and possessin
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Axel Rudakubana, 18, will probably never be released, a judge ruled as he condemned the “extreme violence” of his knife attack on a dance class last y
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John Healey says he hopes Axel Rudakubana, 18, spends rest of his life in prison for murder of three girls
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Inside the courtroom where Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was jailed for 52 years
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Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for the murders of three girls.
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Arguments about evil risk distracting us from practical questions that could save lives in the future, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
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Axel Rudakubana, 18, was sentenced to over 50 years in prison for killing three young girls and wounding 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance clas
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Amazon ‘delivered knife to parent of Southport killer’
Delivery giant says its driver saw recipient was over 25, but will investigate how Axel Rudakubana circumvented its age verification process
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UK teenager jailed for minimum of 52 years for 'harrowing' Southport girls' murders
A British teenager who killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event was jailed for at least 52 years on Thursday, for an attack Prime
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Attorney general to review 'unduly lenient' sentence of Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana
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Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three young girls and injured several more people in a mass stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift dance class in England's n
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Axel Rudakubana likely to spend life in prison after being sentenced to 52 years for Southport murders
Eighteen-year-old is handed 13 life sentences on Thursday
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