Axel Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty to murdering three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last year
He killed Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe on 29 July - the judge says it's "inevitable" he'll get a "life sentence equivalent" when he's sentenced on Thursday
On the first day of his trial, Rudakubana also admitted the attempted murders of eight children and two adults
And he admitted the production of ricin, and possession of a terrorist document - namely a PDF file titled Military Studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual
The Crown Prosecution Service says Rudakubana had a "sickening" interest in death and carried out a "meticulously planned rampage"
Rudakubana was referred "a number of times" to the counter-extremism Prevent scheme, had been expelled from school, had attacked another pupil with a hockey stick, and had been visited by police a number of times
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says "Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit"
Axel Rudakubana had a long history of violence, our correspondent Judith Moritz reports
We're expecting a statement soon from the Crown Prosecution Service, following Axel Rudakubana pleading guilty to murdering three girls at a dance class in Southport on 29 July.
As a reminder, Rudakubana's plea was unexpected - a four-week trial was due to start this week, but instead he will be sentenced on Thursday.
We'll bring you the key lines, so stay with us - and you'll be able to watch live at the top of the page.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana just pleaded guilty to the murder of three girls, the attempted murder of 10 more people, and three other charges - including possessing Al-Qaeda material.
The 18-year-old was 17 at the time of the attacks. He lived in Banks in Lancashire, near Southport, and was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents in 2006. He moved to the Southport area in 2013.
Rudakubana was not named following the attacks due to his age, but last year Judge Andrew Menary KC ruled ruled his name could be made public following applications from the media, shortly before he turned 18.
In August, the court heard Rudakubana had an "autism spectrum disorder diagnosis" and had been "unwilling to leave the house and communicate with family for a period of time".
Image source, Helen TipperAxel Rudakubana in court last year
Jonny Humphries
Reporting from court
For the first few moments after the courtroom was assembled today, it seemed as if we would hear more of the same from Rudakubana - nothing.
When the court clerk asked him to confirm his name, he did not respond as he hadn’t done at several pre-trial hearings.
Trial judge Justice Goose asked the dock officers either side of the teenager if they could hear, which they confirmed.
The clerk then asked a second time for Rudakubana to confirm his identity.
When he again failed to respond, his barrister, Stan Reisz KC, rose to his feet and asked if he could approach the dock.
A few moments later, Reisz told the court that there was no argument over his client’s identity.
Those of us observing proceedings, both in the courtroom and over a video-link, were fully expecting the practical process of getting a jury together to begin.
But Reisz spoke again and asked for the indictment - the list of charges he faced - to be read again.
In court that usually means one thing - the defendant is changing his pleas.
Indeed, this time we heard from Rudakubana, as he repeated one word 16 times - guilty.
Southport MP Patrick Hurley tells BBC Radio 5 Live "there is surprise and shock" at the unexpected guilty plea of Axel Rudakubana this morning.
"We are all hoping the families get the outcome and justice they need."
Hurley says he's pleased the victims’ families won't have to sit through the "mental torture" of a lengthy trial.
"This isn't a day for celebration - it is a day to make sure we remember the victims."
Image source, EPAPatrick Hurley - pictured here laying flowers on the day after the attack - says the community has been healing but won't be the same again
Speaking in court, Justice Goose said he was "conscious of the fact the families are not here today".
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said the families had not attended as it was assumed the trial would open fully on Tuesday.
Justice Goose said he extended his apologies to the families that "for that reason they weren't here to hear him enter his pleas".
The prosecution barrister said she would speak to them before the sentencing on Thursday.
More now from what happened in court as Rudakubana changed his pleas.
He kept his head down towards his knees as the judge said to him: "You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment and to each of the charges upon it.
"The next stage is sentence. That will take place on Thursday at 11am."
The judge, Justice Goose, added: "You will understand it is inevitable the sentence to be imposed upon you will mean a life sentence equivalent will be imposed upon you.
"I will have to complete the sentencing process on that on that occasion."
The ricin and the al-Qaeda document were found during searches of his home where he lived with his parents, after the attack.
Rudakubana was 17 at the time of the attack. Until now, he has refused to speak at his court appearances.
At a court hearing in December last year, not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf for the charges of murder and attempted murder.
Charges of producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing terrorist material were also put to him but, again, he did not respond and not guilty pleas were entered.
His trial was due to start today, lasting four weeks. But as it began he changed his pleas - meaning there will be no trial, and he will be sentenced on Thursday.
Image source, Julia Quenzler / BBCAxel Rudakubana at a previous hearing
Judith Moritz
Reporting from court
Axel Rudakubana sat down with his face covered with a PPE Covid mask.
He refused to stand or speak his name.
He answered very quietly and muffled - saying "guilty" to each count.
As well as the three charges of murder and 10 of attempted murder, Rudakubana also pleaded guilty to having a kitchen knife in a public place.
He also admitted to the production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism - an al-Qaeda training manual.
The document was a PDF file titled Military Studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.
Image source, Getty ImagesPhotographers outside Liverpool Crown Court as a prison van believed to hold Rudakubana arrived this morning
The judge in Liverpool, Justice Goose, has ordered Rudakubana be sentenced on Thursday.
We’ve just heard that the British man accused of the Southport attack has changed his plea on the first day of his trial, pleading guilty to all charges.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to murdering three young girls.
He also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of eight other children and to the attempted murder of Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.