A teenager accused of killing three girls in a knife attack at a dance class in the UK has pleaded guilty to their murders.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Lancashire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on what was due to be the first day of his trial on Monday.

He refused to stand or confirm his name but then pleaded guilty to the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Rudakubana also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife over the attack in the Merseyside town on July 29th, 2024.

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana (centre) covering his face as he appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court charged with three counts of murder, 1-8-24. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Eight other children aged between seven and 13 were injured in the mass stabbing at a children's activity centre, along with yoga instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Rudakubana was aged 17 at the time of the attack, which has not been declared terror-related according to Merseyside Police.

He further pleaded guilty to charges of producing the toxin ricin and possessing an al Qaeda training manual allegedly found in searches of his home in Banks, Lancashire, in the following days.

The judge of the case, Mr Justice Goose, said he will sentence the teenager on Thursday.

None of the victims' family members were in court as the trial had been expected to open on Tuesday.

Protests

The Southport attack sparked a wave of violence across the UK as riots broke out after posts spread online that claimed the suspect was a 17-year-old asylum seeker, who had come to the country by boat.

Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved with his family to the village of Banks in Lancashire about a decade ago.

Neighbours described the family as unremarkable, but it can now be reported that teachers had concerns after he showed violent behaviour in secondary school.

Rudakubana, who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, was expelled for an incident involving a hockey stick before moving to a specialist school, where teachers were concerned about his behaviour and his violence towards others.

Reporting via IRN.

Main image: Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar. Image: Merseyside Police