The teenager who is accused of committing the fatal Southport stabbings which killed three children at a dance class has been charged with a terror offence and production of a deadly poison.
Nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport on 29 July.
18-year-old Axel Rudakubana was arrested and accused of carrying out the stabbing, and he will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (30 October) by videolink after his home was searched.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy today (29 October) said in a press conference that a search of the accused's house uncovered the poison known as ricin.
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She said: "Searches of Axel Rudakubana’s home address resulted in an unknown substance being found. Testing confirmed the substance as ricin.
“We have worked extensively with partners to establish that there was a low to very low risk to the public and I want to make that reassurance clear today.
“I can also tell you that there was no Ricin present at Hart Street.”
Rudakubana has already been charged with the murders of the three girls, as well as the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults along with possession of a knife.
Chief Constable Kennedy said that the Southport attack hadn't been declared a terrorist incident by counter-terror police.
She said: "I recognise that these new charges may lead to speculation.
“The matter for which Axel Rudakubana has been charged under the Terrorism Act does not require motive to be established. For a matter to be declared as a terrorist incident, motivation would need to be established.
“I would strongly advise anyone against speculating as to the motivation in this case. The criminal proceedings against Axel Rudakubana are live and he has a right to a fair trial.” Kennedy continued.
The police chief urged people not to engage in 'rumour and speculation', and said that the terror charge was made in connection to a PDF file titled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, which is an Al Qaeda training manual.
Senior medical adviser Dr Renu Bindra also said there was no evidence that anyone had been exposed to ricin at the Southport attack.
On that day on 29 July, Rudakubana is accused of entering the dance class being put on during the school holidays on Hart Street, Southport, and carrying out the fatal stabbings.
Two of the children he is accused of stabbing died at the scene, and Alice da Silva Aguiar was pronounced dead at Alder Hey Hospital in the early hours of the following day.
Significant demonstrations followed the Southport attack which then resulted in a series of riots.
Rudakubana has a provisional trial date for January 2025.
Joe Harker