On Thursday, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana appeared in an English court charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack at a summer dance class in Southport.
The incident, which occurred during a “Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop” for children, has shocked the nation and ignited two nights of violent protests.
Rudakubana first appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, facing charges of three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a bladed article. He was later transferred to Liverpool Crown Court, where he appeared in the dock with his face covered by a grey sweatshirt and did not speak.
Judge Andrew Menary decided not to impose reporting restrictions on Rudakubana’s identity, though his name had not previously been disclosed due to his age. Rudakubana was remanded in custody and will face a further hearing in October.
Disturbances erupted in Southport, located in northwest England, on Tuesday after false social media claims suggested the suspect was an Islamist migrant. This misinformation led to anti-immigrant protesters converging on the town.
However, police confirmed that the attack was not related to terrorism and that the suspect, born in Britain, was not an immigrant.
The attack resulted in the deaths of three girls aged six to nine and left eight other children with stab wounds. The Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust reported on Thursday that two of the injured children had been discharged, while five others remain in stable condition.
In London, protests on Wednesday near Downing Street saw thousands chanting slogans such as “Save our kids” and “Stop the boats.” The Metropolitan Police arrested 111 individuals for offenses including violent disorder and assaults on officers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, calling the perpetrators “violent thugs” and pledging that they would face the full force of the law. More than 50 police officers were injured in the Southport protests, and protesters in London threw flares and smoke canisters.
Local residents in Southport have expressed dismay at the violence, with many participating in vigils and laying flowers at the site of the attack. Taylor Swift fans have raised over £325,000 ($417,000) to support the victims’ families and the hospital treating the injured children. Swift has expressed her shock and sorrow over the tragedy, stating she is at a loss for words to convey her sympathies.
