Axel Rudakubana, the 17-year-old accused of murdering three young girls in a knife attack during a summer dance class, is shown in this courtroom sketch in Liverpool, Britain, on August 1, 2024. — Reuters file
The suspect in the UK July knife attack that resulted in the deaths of three young girls and triggered anti-immigration riots has been charged with producing a deadly poison and 'terrorism' offences, according to British police. The new charges against Axel Rudakubana, 18, were brought after an Al Qaeda training manual was discovered during a search of his home, police stated. Rudakubana has already been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the stabbing spree, which led to nationwide anti-immigration riots. The additional charges include 'production of a biological toxin, namely ricin', and 'possessing information...likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism', according to a police statement. Rudakubana is scheduled to appear in court via video link on Wednesday. The three girls, aged six, seven, and nine, were killed in July at a Taylor Swift-themed summer dance class in Southport. The stabbings led to unrest and riots in over a dozen English towns and cities, with authorities attributing the violence to misinformation about the alleged attacker's identity. In their statement on Tuesday, police emphasized that the stabbing has not been classified as a terror act and urged against speculation.
'At this time, Counter Terrorism Policing has not declared the attack on Monday 29 July a terrorist incident,' the statement read. 'I recognize that the new charges may lead to speculation,' Chief Constable Serena Kennedy was quoted as saying in the statement. 'We strongly advise caution against anyone speculating about the motivation in this case. My plea is to be patient, avoid engaging in rumor and speculation, and not believe everything you read on social media.'
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