Summary

  • Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says it's a "total disgrace" that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was able to buy a knife aged 17 on Amazon, when he already had a conviction for violence

  • She says Rudakubana admitted carrying a knife more than 10 times before the deadly attacks "but the action against him was far too weak" - and she says rules on knife sales will be toughened up

  • She says he was referred to counter-terrorism scheme Prevent three times, but his case was not referred onwards - despite his interest in school shootings and the London Bridge terror attack

  • Earlier, Keir Starmer said the UK faces a "new threat" and that "terrorism has changed"

  • He said the threat comes from "extreme violence carried out by loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms"

  • Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last year

  • Rudakubana also admitted 10 attempted murders, 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 announcement of the ricin charge was delayed in October, the BBC's Tom Symonds reports

'Britain now faces a new threat' - PM

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos and Emily McGarvey

  1. What do we know about Axel Rudakubana?

    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".

    Court drawing of Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, August 1, 2024Helen Tipper

    Axel Rudakubana in court last year

  2. In court, we had no idea this was coming

    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.

  3. 'We're shocked... but glad families won't have to sit through trial'

    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."

    MP for Southport Patrick Hurley lays flowers, as media stand behind himEPA

    Patrick Hurley - pictured here laying flowers on the day after the attack - says the community has been healing but won't be the same again

  4. Judge apologises to families who weren't in court to hear guilty pleas

    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.

  5. Judge tells Rudakubana: 'It's inevitable you'll get life sentence equivalent'

    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."

  6. The 16 charges Axel Rudakubana has admitted

    • Murder of three girls on 29 July 2024: Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine; Bebe King, aged six; and and Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven
    • Attempted murder of 10 people on the same day. They include eight children, who cannot be named, and two adult victims - class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes
    • Possession of a knife on the day of the stabbings, 29 July 2024
    • Production of a biological toxin, ricin, a deadly poison, on or before 29 July
    • A terror offence - possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism. This relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual which he is said to have possessed between 29 August 2021 and 30 July 2024

    The ricin and the al-Qaeda document were found during searches of his home where he lived with his parents, after the attack.

  7. How Rudakubana's pleas have changed

    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.

    Axel Rudakubana at a previous hearingJulia Quenzler / BBC

    Axel Rudakubana at a previous hearing

  8. Rudakubana refused to stand as he pleaded guilty

    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.

  9. Rudakubana also pleads guilty to having al-Qaeda manual
    Breaking

    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.

    A Prison van escorted by a police van arrives at court as photographers wearing coats take photosGetty Images

    Photographers outside Liverpool Crown Court as a prison van believed to hold Rudakubana arrived this morning

  10. Sentencing scheduled for Thursday
    Breaking

    The judge in Liverpool, Justice Goose, has ordered Rudakubana be sentenced on Thursday.

  11. Southport killer pleads guilty to all charges
    Breaking

    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.