2024 Southport stabbings
On 29 July 2024, a mass stabbing happened at Hart Space, a dance studio in Southport, Merseyside, during a Taylor Swift–themed workshop for children. A 17-year-old attacker used a kitchen knife and targeted young girls. Two children died at the scene and a third died in hospital the next day. Ten people were injured, including children and adults.
The attacker was Axel Rudakubana, who was born on 7 August 2006. He arrived by taxi under a false name, walked into the Hart Space wearing a surgical mask and a green hoodie, and began stabbing people in the studio. A yoga teacher, Leanne Lucas, and another staff member tried to protect the children. Some children escaped through a fire exit, while others were helped by members of the public. The first police officer arrived within ten minutes of the first emergency call, and Rudakubana was quickly arrested.
Rudakubana faced many charges. He was accused of three murders and ten counts of attempted murder, plus possession of a bladed article. He was later charged with additional offenses related to ricin and a study of an al-Qaeda training manual. In December 2024, he pleaded guilty to all charges. He was then sentenced in January 2025 to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years. Because he was 17 at the time of the attack, his sentence was later adjusted to “detained at His Majesty’s pleasure,” which is the equivalent of a life sentence for someone under 18. The minimum term remained 52 years, meaning he is unlikely to be released for a very long time.
investigators did not find evidence that the attack was a terrorist act, though prosecutors suggested the crime might have been carried out for its own sake. It later emerged that Rudakubana had a history of violent behavior and had been referred to the government’s Prevent program three times between 2019 and 2021 because of concerns about violence, though he was not accepted into the program since there was no clear terrorist ideology.
The case led to wide discussions about online misinformation and how it can spark angry reactions. After the attack, people spread false rumors about the attacker’s identity and background, which caused protests and rioting in some places. The Prime Minister promised to review terrorism laws to cover acts of extreme violence that aren’t driven by a clear ideology, and a review of the Prevent program was launched.
In the days and weeks after the stabbing, the community and leaders paid their respects. Victims’ families received public support and condolences from national leaders. Taylor Swift, whose song was linked to the workshop, offered support to the families and later met with them backstage at concerts. A memorial and fundraising efforts followed, including a new playground and community events to remember the victims.
An inquest into the deaths began in August 2024 and was later paused while the legal cases continued.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:16 (CET).