Axel Rudakubana: Live updates as Southport child killer faces sentencing for murdering three children in knife rampage

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana unexpectedly changed his pleas to guilty on Monday as he was about to go on trial for the murders of three children and the attempted murder of eight others plus two adults.

The families of the victims were not present to see the teenager admit his guilt as they believed the trial was due to open fully on Tuesday.

Following his admission it emerged Rudakubana was referred to Prevent, the UK’s counter extremism programme, before he carried out the attack.

It was also reported he was planning Britain’s first high school massacre a week before the knife rampage – but was talked out of going to the building by his father.

Hours after the guity pleas were entered, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a public inquiry would take place to give the people of Southport answers about what happened leading up to the attack.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer then addressed the nation from Downing Street on Tuesday morning to warn Britain was facing a new terrorism threat from ‘loners and misfits’ as he vowed to bring in changes to protect children.

Police officers have been pictured arriving at Liverpool Crown Court ahead of Axel Rudakubana’s sentencing this morning.

Sadistic Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana is today due to receive a life sentence for the killings of three girls and attempts to murder 10 more people.

In what prosecutors described as a ‘meticulously-planned rampage’, the maniac wielded a knife as he savaged children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance class in a crime which shocked the nation.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, all died and eight more children aged between seven and 13 suffered knife wounds, as did dance teacher Leanne Lucas while trying to protect the children.

Businessman John Hayes, who rushed to the scene from his office nearby and attempted to overpower Rudakubana, was also stabbed. Others nearby who heard screams also rushed to the scene and police arrived, bringing the horrific incident to an end.

In 12 minutes of mayhem, Rudakubana, wearing a green hooded top and surgical facemask, knifed as many children as he could, even pulling one girl back as she tried to flee. Ms Lucas’s fellow dance teacher Heidi Liddle hid in a toilet with one child.

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as Axel Rudakubana is sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court over the Southport attacks.

Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty to 16 charges including the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine as they attended a dance class on July 29 last year.

The murders triggered a wave of violence across the UK with unrest in several towns and cities which resulted in the arrests of 1,280 people. Nearly 500 were jailed.

Rudakubana’s sentencing is due to start at 11am.

Stick with us for live updates from throughout the hearing with Richard Marsden reporting from Liverpool Crown Court and Jamie Bullen from London.