Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Trial of teen accused in Southport stabbings set to begin

Axel Rudakubana is charged with murdering three children during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on 29 July 2024.

Southport-stabbing-Getty

The victims, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, were killed in one of the country’s deadliest mass stabbings in recent years. (Photo: Getty Images)

THE TRIAL of an 18-year-old accused of killing three young girls in a stabbing spree that sparked widespread riots in the country is scheduled to begin today at Liverpool Crown Court.

Axel Rudakubana is charged with murdering three children during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on 29 July 2024.


The victims, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, were killed in one of the country’s deadliest mass stabbings in recent years.

Ten others, including eight children, were injured in the attack. Rudakubana faces 16 charges, including three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and one count of possessing a blade.

He has entered not-guilty pleas, and the trial is expected to last four weeks.

Riots and misinformation

The attack triggered violent unrest across the UK, with riots erupting in over a dozen towns and cities, including Southport and Liverpool.

Authorities attributed the violence to far-right agitators spreading misinformation, including claims that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.

The riots led to attacks on police, shops, mosques, and hotels housing asylum seekers. Hundreds of individuals were arrested and charged for their involvement.

Rudakubana, born in Wales to parents of Rwandan origin, lived in Banks, a village near Southport. Restrictions on reporting his name were lifted in August due to concerns over misinformation.

Judge Andrew Menary stated that withholding the name allowed false information to spread unchecked.

Tributes and visits

Taylor Swift, who was on her Eras tour at the time, expressed her shock and reportedly met two survivors during her London shows in August.

King Charles visited Southport the same month, meeting survivors and viewing tributes outside the town hall. Prince William and Princess Catherine visited the area in October to show support for the community.

Additional charges

In October, Rudakubana was charged with two additional offences following evidence obtained during searches of his home.

The charges included the production of a biological toxin (ricin) and possession of information likely to aid terrorism, including an Al-Qaeda training manual. Despite these charges, the attack was not classified as a terrorist incident.

Chief constable Serena Kennedy urged caution against speculation about the case, advising the public not to believe unverified social media claims.

Rudakubana, who has appeared in court several times since the attack, has refused to speak during hearings.

In December, he appeared via videolink from Belmarsh prison. Authorities have warned against publishing any material that could prejudice the trial.

(With inputs from AFP)

More For You

Starmer and Modi

Starmer and Modi shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil, on November 18, 2024.

Getty Images

Starmer calls Modi over Kashmir attack; expresses condolences

PRIME MINISER Keir Starmer spoke to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning following the deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 people on Tuesday.

According to a readout from 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he was horrified by the devastating terrorist attack and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the British people to those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India. The two leaders agreed to stay in touch.

Keep ReadingShow less
indian-army-reuters

Indian security force personnel stand guard at the site of the attack on tourists in Baisaran near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, April 24, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Indian and Pakistani troops exchange fire along Line of Control

INDIAN and Pakistani troops exchanged fire overnight along the Line of Control in Kashmir, officials from both sides said on Friday.

The exchange took place days after a deadly attack in the region and amid calls from the United Nations for both countries to show "maximum restraint".

Keep ReadingShow less
India declares state mourning for Pope Francis, Modi leads tributes

A sculpture by Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik in Puri, Odisha, on Monday (21)

India declares state mourning for Pope Francis, Modi leads tributes

INDIA began three days of state mourning on Tuesday (22) for the Pope, a rare honour for a foreign religious leader, as prime minister Narendra Modi joined other south Asian and world leaders in paying tributes following his death on Monday (21).

Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure, the Vatican said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Minority youth face racist content online once a week, report reveals

As many as 95 per cent of respondents reported encountering violent or abusive racist content online. (Photo: iStock)

Minority youth face racist content online once a week, report reveals

MOST young people from black and minority communities in Britain encounter racist content online, a new study revealed, with more than half reporting it damages their sense of safety.

The "Youth, Race and Social Media" report published on Thursday (24) highlighted a troubling picture of online racism and its effects on young people aged 16-24.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-pahalgam-getty

'I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer,' Modi said in his first speech since the incident.

Getty Images

Modi vows to hunt Kashmir attackers ‘to the ends of the Earth’

INDIA and Pakistan have exchanged a series of diplomatic measures after prime minister Narendra Modi blamed Pakistan for a deadly shooting in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.

Modi said India would identify and punish those behind the attack and accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism.

Keep ReadingShow less