Six months after a teenage attacker stabbed three girls to death at a children’s dance class in England, new details about his background have sparked questions about how authorities repeatedly failed to spot the threat he posed.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was sentenced to serve at least 52 years for a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The sentence means he cannot apply for parole until he is almost 70, and judge Julian Goose said “it is likely he will never be released.

A teenager who stabbed three young girls to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England has been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.

Axel Rudakubana admitted a total of 16 charges, including the three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing a blade.

The 18-year-old’s disruptions meant he was not in court as the judge handed him one of the longest minimum terms on record.

Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana used a knife that he bought from Amazon when he was still 17 to kill three girls at a dance class in July 2024.

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The Southport murderer would be 'target No 1' for reprisal attacks from inmates, the chair of the Prison Officers Association said

Axel Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering three young girls in Southport on July 29 last year.

Rudakubana cowardly refused to come into the dock at Liverpool Crown Court when he was being sentenced by the judge

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died in the attack in July last year.

Southport child-killer Axel Rudakubana is likely to die in jail after being detained for life with a minimum term of 52 years for the “sadistic” murders of three girls. The 18-year-old was sentenced in his absence at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday after indicating he would be “disruptive” if he was present in the courtroom.