• Axel Rudakubana, 18, received a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murder of three young girls during a violent stabbing spree.
• The attack occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, U.K., shocking the nation and sparking discussions on public safety.
• Prosecutors revealed Rudakubana had a history of disturbing behavior and was motivated by a longstanding obsession with violence.
• The incident ignited anti-immigrant riots, with the government announcing a public inquiry into systemic failures that allowed the attack.
• The judge highlighted the profound and lasting impact on the victims' families and the wider community.

LONDON — An 18-year-old has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for his horrific attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls, ages 6 to 9. During the sentencing hearing held on Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Julian Goose described the attack as an attempt to carry out a mass murder of “innocent, happy young girls.” Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was convicted of three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and additional charges related to possessing a knife, a biologically dangerous substance known as ricin, and an Al-Qaeda training manual. The attack on July 29, 2023, left three girls — Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, dead and injured eight others.

Rudakubana, whose actions ignited a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment across the UK, was described by prosecutors as having a “longstanding obsession with violence, killing, and genocide.” Despite his disruption during court proceedings, where he was removed for shouting and claiming he felt unwell, the judge stated that it is unlikely Rudakubana would ever be released. “The harm Rudakubana has caused to each family, each child, and to the community has been profound and permanent,” Judge Goose noted.

In the wake of the attack, rumors fueled by far-right activists falsely portrayed Rudakubana as an asylum seeker, which subsequently led to violent protests across the country targeting minority communities. Investigators found that Rudakubana exhibited violent interests long before his crime, having been previously reported to authorities multiple times. The U.K. Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, declared the necessity of a public inquiry to address systemic failures and ensure that such a tragic event never occurs again. “After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history, we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve,” stated Starmer, reflecting the nation’s grief and outrage.

For more details, refer to the original articles from CBS News, CNN, and Al Jazeera.