Face of Axel Rudakubana as killer admits murdering three children at Southport Taylor Swift dance class

This is the face of Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old from Banks in West Lancashire, who has admitted to one of the most horrific crimes in history. The teenager pleaded guilty to the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar during the Southport stabbings.

The three young girls, aged six, seven and nine respectively, were tragically killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space in the seaside town. This incident is one of the most distressing tragedies our region has ever seen.

Innocent children enjoying their summer holidays were brutally murdered, severely injured or left traumatised by the shocking violence that unfolded before them. Rudakubana was also charged with attempting to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and two adults, Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, who were also stabbed but survived the attack.

He faced another count of possession of a bladed article in a public place, specifically a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

Axel Rudakubana faced additional charges of producing a biological toxin, specifically ricin, and having information likely to be useful for terrorism, in the form of a PDF file titled "Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual" in October. Despite refusing to stand or even state his name in court, while surrounded by security and accompanied by an intermediary, defense counsel Stanley Reiz KC requested that the indictment be read again to his client, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Seated, Rudakubana pled guilty to all charges and is set for sentencing on Thursday this week. High Court judge Mr Justice Goose addressed him directly, saying: "Axel Rudakubana, you can hear me I know. You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment, to each of the charges upon it."

He added, "The next stage is for sentence. That will take place on Thursday. In the meantime, you must keep in touch with your barristers, solicitors and the intermediary in order for you to receive any advice or assistance."

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he further stated, "You will understand that it is inevitable that a life sentence will be imposed upon you. In the meantime, you will go with the officers and be produced at that hearing at 11 o'clock on Thursday. Take him down."

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy revealed in a press briefing that additional charges have been brought forward linked to evidence gathered after searching the home of the accused on Old School Close subsequent to the unfortunate events. Despite this, Counter Terrorism Policing has not classified the mass stabbing as a terrorist act.

Chief Constable Kennedy said: "The matter of which Axel Rudakubana has been charged under the Terrorism Act does not require motive to be established. For a matter to be declared as a terrorist incident, motivation would need to be established."