A mass stabbing happened at a Taylor Swift-themed event on July 29, 2024, leaving three children dead and many others injured. The alleged killer, Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old boy, was arrested on July 29, 2024. The incident happened at a dance and yoga event in Southport, England inspired by the singer.
The participating children were within the age group of 6 to 11. After the incident at the Taylor Swift-themed event, riots erupted across England and Northern Ireland, which continued for a week. Over 300 police officers were injured during the violent situation.
The suspect, Rudakubana was presented in court on December 18, 2024, where he reportedly remained silent while his advocates entered a non-guilty plea on his behalf upon Justice Julian Goose’s order. Justice Goose stated that Rudakubana was "mute of malice," a legal term indicating a deliberate refusal to speak. The suspect faces a total of 16 charges.
As per reports, his trial will be held on January 20, 2025. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of poison ricin and an al-Qaida manual in August 2024. He attended the hearing virtually from a London prison.
The three girls he is suspected of killing are Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King. Taylor Swift took to her Instagram story on July 30, 2024, saying she was shocked at the incident. She wrote,
“The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock... The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Taylor Swift met the injured children
Taylor Swift took a break from her Eras tour, which concluded on December 8, 2024, to meet two girls who were injured in the stabbing incident. According to ABC News, their mother Sami Foster posted a TikTok video where the singer was seen posing with the two kids. One of the girls had a visible bandage on her left arm.
The girls even wore t-shirts inspired by Taylor Swift’s We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together song. Sami Foster shared photos expressing gratitude to the singer, and her mother for joining them in an unforgettable night. She thanked her for bringing joy and happiness to Hope and Autumn, making the evening truly magical.
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According to the police, the killings don’t fall under terrorism as the suspect’s motive is unknown yet. Besides children, two adults were also injured during the incident. As per Billboard, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy released a statement in July 2024, expressing sorrow over the fatal incident that claimed the lives of three young children and left others injured, including six in critical condition.
She mentioned that the adults who were critically injured were believed to have been protecting the children. Kennedy extended condolences to the victims' families, acknowledging the immense pain they are enduring.
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