Axel Rudakubana Case: A Timeline of Warning Signs and Tragic Consequences in Southport Murders

The Devastating Attack and Sentencing

Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murders of three young girls – Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (9) – at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last summer. The judge described his crimes as “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious.”

Background and Warning Signs

Born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, Rudakubana had been living in the village of Banks, just outside Southport, where his family moved around 2013. Prior to the attacks, he was known to multiple agencies, including the police, social services, and Prevent, and his actions resulted in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to ten other people.

There were numerous red flags that went unheeded. In October 2019, he was excluded from school for possessing a knife, and he admitted to bringing a knife to school on 10 separate occasions, stating he planned ‘to use it.’ During this period, he contacted Childline anonymously, asking “What should I do if I want to kill somebody?”

Legal Proceedings and Aftermath

In January 2025, Rudakubana, aged 18, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to all 16 counts he was charged with, including three charges of murder, 10 charges of attempted murder, and possession of a knife. Additionally, he admitted to producing ricin, a deadly poison, and possessing terrorist-related materials, including an Al Qaeda Training Manual. These items were discovered during searches of his family home.

Systemic Failures and Public Inquiry

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced an inquiry into the attack, noting that despite numerous signs of Rudakubana’s dangerous nature, including his history of carrying knives, “action against him was far too weak.” The Lancashire Child Safeguarding Partnership has commissioned an independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review to examine the roles of all agencies involved with Rudakubana and their interactions with him and his family.