Kay Oliver: Southport stabbing - suspect in England knife attack named, charged - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A judge has allowed the identity of Axel Rudakubana to be reported as the 17-year-old was charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack. 

A 17-year-old boy has appeared in an English court charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack at a dance class that has shocked the United Kingdom and sparked two nights of violent protests. 

Axel Rudakubana first appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court over the incident at a “Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop” summer holiday event for children in the seaside town of Southport. 

He is charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one of possession of a bladed article. 

His case was later heard at Liverpool Crown Court, where he sat in the dock covering his face with a grey sweatshirt and did not speak to confirm his name. 

Judge Andrew Menary did not impose reporting restrictions on Rudakubana’s identity, which had not previously been reported as he is under 18. 

Rudakubana was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing in October. He has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. 

Large disturbances broke out in Southport, a town in England’s northwest, after false information was spread on social media that the suspect in the stabbings was a radical Islamist migrant, with anti-immigrant protesters descending on Southport town from elsewhere. 

Police have said the attack was not terrorism-related and that the suspect was born in the UK, quashing speculation on his origins. 

Tributes to the victims are left by wellwishers in Southport, England. Photo / Getty Images 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with police leaders to offer them the government’s full backing following violent clashes with protesters in Southport and London. 

”As far as the far-right is concerned, this is co-ordinated, this is deliberate,” Starmer told a press conference. “This is not a protest that just got out of hand. It is a group of individuals who are who are absolutely bent on violence. Our country is coming to terms with an act so inexplicably vile. 

“Our thoughts are with the families at the heart of this unimaginable pain. 

“Let me be clear: the tiny, mindless minority in our society who provoked violent disorder on our streets will be made to face the full force of the law.” 

Starmer said the government was establishing a national unit across police forces to tackle violent disorder including shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology and preventative action such as orders to restrict the movement of persistent offenders. 

He also warned social media companies: “Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online, that is also a crime and it is happening on your premises and the law must be upheld everywhere.” 

Thousands gathered near Starmer’s Read more