Terrorist child killer Axel Rudakubana today pleaded guilty to the triple murder of three innocent schoolgirls.
The savage thug went on a bloody knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29.
Aged just 17 at the time, the deranged fiend knifed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
The bloodshed shocked the nation, and led to tributes from pop star Taylor Swift, who said at the time: ‘These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.’
It is still not known why Rudakubana singled out the summer workshop, held by dance teacher Leanne Lucas, which had been advertised on Instagram.
Today Rudakubana, now 18, pleaded guilty to killing three girls, as well as the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Ms Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife on the day of the attack, production of a biological toxin – ricin – on or before July 29, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Now a timeline has revealed how the ruthless murderer went from being a schoolboy in Wales to a killer whose heinous crimes sparked rioting nationwide.
Axel Rudakubana is pictured in a custody image shortly after his arrest following his rampage
Rudakubana's terrifying and deadly knife rampage left the nation appalled
Victims: Bebe King (left), six, Elsie Dot Stancombe (centre), seven and Alice da Silva Aguiar (right), nine, died during the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport
- 2002: Rudakubana's father Alphonse moves to the UK from Rwanda, according to an interview he gave to his local newspaper in Southport in 2015.
- August 7 2006: Rudakubana is born in Cardiff, Wales.
- 2013: The family - including Rudakubana's father, mother and older brother - move from Wales to Banks in Lancashire, a few miles from Southport.
- July 29 2024: Shortly before midday, a knifeman enters a dance class at The Hart Space in Hart Street in Southport.
Bebe, Elsie and Alice are fatally wounded. Eight other children are injured, as are instructor Ms Lucas and businessman John Hayes. Police say they have detained a male and seized a knife.
Within hours, claims spread online that the suspect is an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat in 2023. Some claims include an alleged identity.
- July 30 2024: In the evening, a peaceful vigil is held outside Southport's Atkinson arts venue, where flowers are laid in memory of those who died. Shortly after the vigil, a separate protest begins outside the town's mosque in St Luke's Road.
People throw items towards the mosque, property is damaged and police vehicles are set on fire.
Pictured is where Rudakubana's horror killing spree took place, as he stabbed young children to death while they danced at Hart Space
The killings shocked the community of Southport. Pictured are mourners embracing each other at a memorial service in August, 2024
Pictured are police and emergency teams in Southport after Rudakubana rampage in 2024
Forensic police are seen following Rudakubana's deadly rampage in Southport
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Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleads guilty to murdering three girls at Taylor Swift-themed dance class
- July 31 2024: Demonstrators gather in Whitehall, London, for an 'Enough Is Enough' protest. Flares and cans are thrown at police and more than 100 people are arrested. Disorder also breaks out in Hartlepool, County Durham, and Aldershot, Hampshire.
- August 1 2024: Police announce that Rudakubana has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. He is not named by police because of his age.
He appears in court in Liverpool and Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC rules he can be named, as he is due to turn 18 in a week.
He initially smiled on entering the courtroom - then kept his face covered by his sweatshirt for the remainder of the proceedings before the case was adjourned.
Later that evening, demonstrators gather outside a hotel in Newton Heath, Manchester.
- August 2 2024: Three police officers are taken to hospital after disorder in Sunderland.
- August 3 2024: There are scenes of violence during planned protests across the UK, including in Liverpool, Hull, Nottingham and Belfast.
JULY 30: Riot police hold back protesters after disorder broke out following the massacre
AUGUST 3: Police officers form a line in front of counter protesters at Nottingham's 'Enough is Enough' demonstration
AUGUST 4:The Southport killings later prompted days of unrest and riots across the UK. Pictured are officers in Rotherham dealing with one incident of disorder during the rioting in August
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- August 4 2024: Disorder continues, including outside a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where masked demonstrators launch lengths of wood and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers.
- August 5 2024: The Government holds an emergency Cobra meeting in the wake of the disorder and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vows to 'ramp up criminal justice'. That evening, a peaceful vigil is held in Southport, a week on from the killings. Police deal with disorder in Plymouth, Devon and Darlington, County Durham.
- August 7 2024: Prison sentences for those involved in the unrest begin to be handed out. Derek Drummond, 58, is the first person to be jailed for violent disorder at Liverpool Crown Court, where he is sentenced to three years.
More than 100 protests are planned for across the country, with counter-demonstrations taking place, but the majority of police forces report very little trouble.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Southport stabbing killer Axel Rudakubana, appearing on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court on January 20
AUGUST 5: People make bubbles as they gather to mourn victims of the Southport murders
OCTOBER 29L Huge crowds gathered at a vigil near Hart Street, Southport, where three children were killed by Rudakubana
- October 29 2024: Merseyside Police announces Rudakubana will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink the next day charged with production of a biological toxin, Ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
- October 30 2024: Rudakubana appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh to face the two new charges. He holds his sweater over the bottom half of his face and does not respond when asked to confirm his name.
- November 13 2024: Rudakubana appears at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink. He covers his face with his grey sweatshirt and does not speak throughout the hearing. About 20 family members of victims sit in the public gallery. The case is adjourned until December 12, when a preparatory hearing will take place.
- January 20 2025: Rudakubana appears at Liverpool Crown Court for the first day of his trial where he pleads guilty to all 16 charges, including the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.