Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a 17-year-old, has been named as the suspect charged with the murder of three girls and the attempted murder of 10 others in Southport, including eight children and two adults, during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday. The defendant is also charged with possessing a curved kitchen knife. He is from the Lancashire village of Banks and is due to turn 18 next week. Despite his age, his identity was made public after applications by media outlets, following concerns about reported “misinformation” regarding the suspect’s identity.
The prosecution, in a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, argued against naming the defendant, citing his autism spectrum diagnosis and a period in which he allegedly was unwilling to leave the house or communicate with his family. The suspect was remanded into youth detention accommodation before his next appearance at Liverpool Crown Court on 25 October for a pre-trial preparation hearing.
Southport experienced unrest on Tuesday following a vigil for the victims, during which protesters gathered near a local mosque. Five men were arrested and one is facing charges for possessing a knife. Almost 60 police officers were injured in the episode. Further disorder broke out in areas across England, with over 100 people arrested at a protest in central London on Wednesday evening.
Following the nationwide incidents, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to increase co-operation between forces across the country to tackle “mindless” violent disorder. Starmer added that the incidents constituted the “actions of a tiny, mindless minority” and condemned “far-right hatred”. Following the attack, the families of Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, two of the deceased girls, issued tributes and asked for privacy.
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