The man who killed three young girls during a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class for children in the small town of Southport, England last July has admitted to carrying out the attack.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, possessing terrorist material, and producing toxin ricin.
According to the Guardian, Rudakubana sat quietly with his head bowed at Liverpool crown court on Monday as Justice Goose explained that he would be put behind bars for good.
"You will understand it is inevitable the sentence to be imposed upon you will mean a life sentence equivalent will be imposed upon you," he said. "I will have to complete the sentencing process on that occasion."
The families of the victims, 9-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, 6-year-old Bebe King, and 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, were not in attendance.
Merseyside Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Urula Doyle described Rudakubana as having a "sickening and sustained interest in death and violence," and showing "no sign of remorse."
"This was an unspeakable attack — one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness," she added.
"At the start of the school holidays, a day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage."
The incident took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. on July 29, 2024 at the Hope of Hart children's club on Hart Street in Southport, about 30 km north of Liverpool. After entering the establishment, Rudakubana stabbed Aguiar, King, and Stancombe along with eight other children and two adults. All were rushed to hospital, however only the latter ten survived.
In the days that followed, protests erupted across the country as Brits called for action from elected officials to crack down on violence.
It has since been revealed that Rudakubana had allegedly planned on carrying out a massacre at nearby Range High School a week earlier, but had been stopped by his father before departing in a taxi.
Per the Daily Mail, Rudakubana had been a student at Range before being suspended for trying to attack classmates with a field hockey stick. This was far from his only violent episode at the school, and he was known to be a troubled individual his whole life, often obsessed with murderous dictators and regimes.
