First photo released of Axel Rudakubana as killer admits Southport stabbing murders

Axel Rudakubana, the teenager who committed one of Merseyside's most horrific crimes, has been pictured for the first time. Up until now, the media have only had court sketches of the teen who has now admitted to the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar during the Southport stabbings.

The 18 year old from Banks in West Lancashire changed his pleas to guilty on Monday, the day he was due to go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The three young girls, aged six, seven and nine respectively, were stabbed to death during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space in the seaside town.

Young children who had been innocently enjoying their summer holidays were brutally killed, horrifically injured or left traumatised by the appalling 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 during the incident but survived the attack.

The teenager faced another count of possession of a bladed article in a public place, namely a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

During an October court session, he was charged with additional offences of producing a biological toxin, namely ricin, and possession of data likely to help a person preparing an act of terror, specifically a PDF named "Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual". Clad in a grey prison tracksuit and wearing a blue medical face mask, Rudakubana declined to stand or state his name while flanked by four dock officers and with an intermediary present, reports the Liverpool Echo.

However, upon request from his counsel Stanley Reiz KC, the indictment was read again, leading to the teen pleading guilty to all charges while seated. He is set for sentencing at the same venue this Thursday.

Mr Justice Goose addressed him in court, saying: "Axel Rudakubana, you can hear me I know. You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment, to each of the charges upon it.

"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.

"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."

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police revealed in a press conference that the additional charges against the suspect stem from evidence collected during searches at his residence on Old School Close after the catastrophic incident. Yet, despite the scale of the stabbing event, it has not been classified as terrorism by Counter Terrorism Policing.

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."

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