Teen Accused in Taylor Swift-Themed Dance Class Stabbings Pleads Not Guilty

Axel Rudakubana faces charges of murdering three children, attempted murder, and possession of ricin and an Al Qaeda manual, with his trial set for January.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, is accused of fatally stabbing three girls and attempting to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, on July 29.
The victims include Alice da Silva Aguiar (9), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Bebe King (6), while eight children and two adults were injured in the attack.
Rudakubana, who refused to speak in court, had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf for 16 charges, including murder, attempted murder, and producing the biological toxin ricin.
The attack prompted widespread rioting fueled by false claims that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker, leading to over 1,200 arrests and hundreds of convictions.
Authorities have not classified the stabbings as a terrorist attack, citing an unclear motive; the trial is scheduled to begin on January 20, 2025, and could last up to four weeks.