Axel Rudakubana sentenced to at least 52 years in prison for Southport killings

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A teenager who murdered three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in northern England has been jailed for at least 52 years for an attack Prime Minister Keir Starmer called one of the most harrowing moments in the United Kingdom’s history.

On Monday, Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted carrying out the killings last July in the town of Southport, a crime which was followed by days of rioting across the UK.

Rudakubana will likely spend the rest of his life in jail for the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were among 26 children attending the summer holiday event.

Rudakubana also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of attempted murder as well as to producing the deadly poison ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual.

‘He would have killed each and every child’

Two of his victims suffered “horrific injuries which … are difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature,” prosecutor Deanna Heer told Liverpool Crown Court.

She said that about 40 minutes before the attack, Rudakubana had searched online for information about a stabbing at a western Sydney church in April.

Judge Julian Goose described Rudakubana’s actions as “evil,” saying: “I am sure that Rudakubana had a settled and determined intention to carry out these offences and that, had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child, all 26 of them, as well as any adults who got in his way.”

The judge sentenced Rudakubana in his absence after he refused to return to court, having twice been removed for interrupting the hearing.

Goose said he was not allowed by law to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole as Rudakubana was 17 at the time of his crimes but added: “It is likely that he will never be released and that he will be in custody for all his life.”

The attack has prompted the UK government to announce a public inquiry as Rudakubana had been referred three times to a counter-radicalisation scheme but no action was taken.

“After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history, we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve,” Starmer said.

“I’m glad those kids are dead, it makes me happy,” Rudakubana told police after the attack, Heer said.

The prosecutor also said the al-Qaeda training manual contained advice on killing with a knife but that Rudakubana was not inspired by any political or religious ideology.

Rudakubana was deemed to be mentally fit to face prosecution.

‘Long-standing obsession with violence’

Heer said two of the girls suffered at least 85 and 122 sharp force injuries, which Rudakubana inflicted with a 20cm-long knife he had bought online from Amazon.

Heer described a scene of horror, with the court shown video footage of screaming young girls fleeing the building.

One bloodied girl was seen collapsing outside, provoking gasps and sobs from the public gallery.

Images and documents found on a computer at his home showed “he had a long-standing obsession with violence, killing and genocide,” Heer said.

Heer said Rudakubana looked up information on social media about the stabbing of Sydney Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on the day of the Southport attack.

Shortly after the start of his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Rudakubana was removed from the dock after repeatedly shouting that he was unwell and wanted to see a paramedic.