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INITIALLY, Alel Rudakubana had appeared via video link at Liverpool Crown Court on:- Wednesday, 18 December 2024, and he refused to speak during a hearing, and a pleas of not guilty pleas were entered, with a trial date set for the:- 20 January2025, at the Crown Court.

Today, 20 January 2025, Axel Rudakubana has unexpectedly entered guilty pleaded to all charges, including:- murder, attempted murder, at Liverpool Crown Court, just before a jury could be sworn in and his trial was set to begin. We are told that Rudakubana, from Banks, of Banks, West Lancashire, also admitted producing the biological toxin ricin, and a charge under the Terrorism Act related to possessing an al-Qaeda training manual.

On hearing the pleas Mr Justice Goose said that Axel Rudakubana will now be sentenced on Thursday. We are also told that the victims' families were not in Court and the Mr Justice Goose, had also apologised to them, saying:- "we had all assumed" the trial would get under way in earnest on Tuesday.

It is important to know that under UK law he cannot be sentenced to a whole life term for his crimes because he is under the age of 21.

In a statement from Southport's Member of Parliament Patrick Hurley, he said:- "The guilty plea on 20 January 2025 brings us a step closer to justice for the victims and their families affected by the hideous atrocity in Southport, on:- 29 July 2024. There will be no celebrations or jubilation today, but today marks a milestone along the way as our Town begins to recover. Southport will never be the same after the devastating attack at the heart of our community and the loss of three of our Town's daughters. I am very grateful that the culprit will now face justice after Thursday's sentencing hearing for the murder of those three young girls and the attempted murder of ten others. This horrific attack has left scars on our community, but it is in times like these that we must come together to support the families who have endured an unimaginable loss. I have been humbled by the strength and unity of our Town. I have been proud to see the best of our community in the past 6 months, organising vigils, laying flowers, and rebuilding our Town after the riots that followed the attack, and I know that we can continue to heal and support each other after today's hearing. More widely, questions need to be answered about how and why the killer was able to launch the attack when his behaviour and interests were evidently cause for concern for law enforcement over a long period. I strongly support measures to get to the bottom of how the state failed so catastrophically. Today, most of all, it is a day we remember the victims and the devastating consequences for the families of those affected. We will always remember the children, the adults who protected them, and all of those affected by this horrific attack."

The shocking events of 29 July 2024 when Axel Rudakubana, killed 3 young girls:- Alice da Silva Aguiar (9), Bebe King (6), and Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), along with stabbing 10 others, at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport, have had had a huge impact, not only on the families of those involved, but also on an international level.

We must also be aware of lots of fake news and information still being pushed out on the internet and we must let the legal process work without interference from external parties, no matter who they might be. But, serious questions must be asked as a matter of urgency into how this matter could have happened. Especially as it is thought he could have attempted to attack, at his former School, Rage High School, in Formby, the day before.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had earlier said the conviction of the:- "vile and sick Southport killer" was welcome, and that it was still a:- "moment of trauma for the nation." The Prime Minister has also said that:- "There are grave questions to answer as to how the state failed in its ultimate duty to protect these young girls. Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit."

As a result the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has now announced she has launched a public inquiry into the attacks.

In a statement released today, Yvette Cooper, said:- "All our thoughts today must be with the families of little Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, and all those who were harmed by this truly horrendous, barbaric, and cowardly attack. Three innocent little girls who went to a summer dance club lost their lives in the most devastating way, other children faced terrible injuries, and they and all the parents and families have had to endure the most unimaginable trauma and grief. My thoughts are also with the entire community in Southport, which has shown such strength and courage in the face of the unspeakable act of violence visited on their town. I also want to take the opportunity to thank all the:- Police, 1st Responders, Hospital staff and prosecutors who have worked in incredibly difficult circumstances from the day of the attack to support the families and bring this case to today’s trial. It is important that justice has been served today. But nothing will ever take away the trauma and loss endured by the children and families and we will ensure that they continue to receive the support and care they need in the coming weeks, months, and years. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been clear that important information about the perpetrator’s past could not be made public before today, to avoid jeopardising the legal proceedings or prejudicing the possible jury trial, in line with the normal rules of the British justice systems. Nothing has been more important than securing justice for the families. But now that there has been a guilty plea, it is essential that the families and the people of Southport can get answers about how this terrible attack could take place and about why this happened to their children. The responsibility for these terrible murders and the barbaric attack lies with Axel Rudakubana. The CPS has described him as:- ''a young man with a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence'' who has:- ''shown no sign of remorse.'' But the families and the people of Southport also need answers about what happened leading up to this attack. The perpetrator was in contact with a range of different state agencies throughout his teenage years. He was referred 3 times to the Prevent programme between:- December 2019 and April 2021 aged:- 13 and 14. He also had contact with the:- Police, the Courts, the Youth Justice system, social services, and mental health services. Yet between them, those agencies failed to identify the terrible risk and danger to others that he posed. This terrible case comes against a backdrop over a series of years in which growing numbers of teenagers have been referred to Prevent, investigated by Counter Terror Police, or referred to other agencies amid concerns around serious violence and extremism. We need to face up to why this has been happening and what needs to change. Although, in line with CPS advice to preserve the integrity of the prosecution, we were constrained in what we were able to say at the time, the Home Office commissioned an urgent Prevent Learning Review during the summer into the 3 referrals that took place and why they were closed. We will publish further details this week, alongside new reforms to the Prevent programme. But we also need more independent answers on both Prevent and all the other agencies that came into contact with this extremely violent teenager as well as answers on how he came to be so dangerous, including through a public inquiry that can get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change. This horrendous attack will leave a lasting impact on our country. We will all remember:- Alice, Bebe, and Elsie, and we will always stand with the families and the community who are living with the pain of their loss. In our efforts to answer the questions that remain about this case, the need to see justice done for the victims and their families will remain at the forefront of our minds."

The events of that day also highlighted the issues around fake news, and with the public inquiry now set to get underway, and sentencing, we must be even more aware of bad parties hijacking this horrific incident and again taking it over for other political or ideological reasons.