at 6:00: a teenager is jailed for 52 years for the murders of three little girls in southport and the attempted murder of ten other children and adults. the prime minister calls the attacks one of the most harrowing moments in our country's history. six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and nine—year—old alice da silva aguiar were all stabbed to death last summer. the judge said it was it likely axel rudakubana will never be released from jail. iam sure i am sure that rudakubana had a settled and determined intention to carry out these offences, and had he been able to he would have killed each and every child, all 26 of them, as well as any adults that got in his way.

we are live at liverpool crown court, where the youngest sentence ever given to a teenager was handed down. —— longest sentence. also tonight — the dangerous storm heading towards northern ireland and scotland. the met office issues a red warning — its highest — for tomorrow. on bbc london: the metropolitan police is brought out of special measure, but there are warnings that there is still work to do. good evening. the teenager who murdered three little girls and tried to kill ten others at a dance class in southport last year has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years injail. the court heard graphic details of the horror and appalling injuries that axel rudakubana, who is now 18, inflicted on the children and two adults.

six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and nine—year—old alice da silva aguiar all died in the attack. he stabbed one of the children more than 100 times. rudakubana was not in court when thejudge read out his sentence. he had to be removed from the dock after repeatedly disrupting the court — shouting out that he was feeling ill — in front of some of the families who were watching from the public gallery. many of them left the courtroom, unable to listen to details of what he did. some of the injuries were so horrific that we are not going to report it all. and i must warn you that what you are about to hear is very distressing. judith moritz reports from liverpool crown court. their lives had barely begun. bebe king, elsie dot stancombe, and alice da silva aguiar, gap toothed and

smiling, three rays ofjoy and innocence. how can their loss ever be measured? a whole town mourns them. the world now knows southport for all the wrong reasons. but it is their parents, of course, whose pain is most acute. like alice's mum, alexandra. she said, alice was our purposeful living. so what do we do now? our home holes family memories and sometimes we call out alice's name, only to be met with a shock to the heart. the parents were asked to try to put things into words for the court, as the man who murdered their children was sentenced. but elsie dot stancombe�*s mum, jenny, was clear about her feelings. she said, we are not going to stand here and list everything you have taken away from us, because we refused to give you the satisfaction of hearing it. we will not let you know anything about her, because you don't deserve to know the extraordinary person she was. and it's notjust the children.

they were at a class being run by y°93 they were at a class being run by yoga teacher leanne lucas. she stood up yoga teacher leanne lucas. she stood up in court today and spoke of her trauma. she said, he targeted us because we were women and girls, vulnerable and easy prey. for alice, elsie, heidi, bebe and the surviving girls, i'm surviving for you. it's a six months since that terrible day in southport. today, for the first time, the full detail of what happened has been told, including information about the teenager who unleashed such hell. he didn't want to be recognised. hood up, mask on, a school rudakubana skulks on the back of a taxi. he booked to take heart street in southport. having arrived there, the driver asks him how he wants to pay. imilli arrived there, the driver asks him how he wants to pay.— arrived there, the driver asks him . how he wants to pay._ but how he wants to pay. with cash? but he “um -s how he wants to pay. with cash? but he jumps out — how he wants to pay. with cash? but he jumps out with — how he wants to pay. with cash? but he jumps out with other _ how he wants to pay. with cash? but he jumps out with other things - how he wants to pay. with cash? but he jumps out with other things on . he jumps out with other things on his mind. the teenager only had one

intent, looking for the taylor swift dance class. first he tries the wrong door, and then, calmly, wanders through the one he wants, before disappearing up the stairs towards the children. it was ten minutes before the police arrived to a scene of carnage. two adults and ii a scene of carnage. two adults and 11 children, stabbed, and three little girls brutally murdered. it was such extreme violence, of the utmost and exceptionally high seriousness, that it is difficult to comprehend why it was done. i am sure that rudakubana had a settled and determined intention to carry out these offences, and that, had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child, all 26 of them, as well as any adults who got in his way. them, as well as any adults who got in his wa . . ., , in his way. having arrested rudakubana, _ in his way. having arrested rudakubana, it _ in his way. having arrested rudakubana, it wasn't - in his way. having arrested j rudakubana, it wasn't long in his way. having arrested - rudakubana, it wasn't long before the police went to his house.

inside, they found chaos. in the lounge, a knife on the sofa, and electronic devices full of images of war and genocide. and there was more in his bedroom. under the bed, a machete, a bow and set of arrows, and then a fine which brought the search to a sudden stop. ricin, the deadly poison, the equipment to make daley. on bbc london, the metropolitan police is brought out of special measure, but there are warnings that there is still work to do. i would like to pay tribute to the victims and their family, they have shown tremendous dignity and composure in the face of unbelievable horror. many of the cases that we deal with have tragedy, difficulties and trauma, but this is one of the most harrowing i have ever come across. on 29th july, harrowing i have ever come across. on 29thjuly, 2024, axel rudakubana stabbed and killed three young girls, at a holiday dance class. he

injured ten other people, eight of them also young children. elsie dot stanmore, bebe king and alice aguiar lost their lives on a day that should have been filled with happiness for them. when rudakubana entered the room they were singing and making friendship bracelets. axel rudakubana a murderer, and utter devastation followed as he acted out a meticulously planned rampage of murder and violence. his purpose was to kill, and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable no doubt in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he did. three days ago, he pleaded guilty to all 16 counts against him. meaning the families of the victims did not have to relive the victims did not have to relive the events of that day, in a trial.

but his has never expressed any remorse, only cowardice in his refusal to face the families whose lives he has changed forever. this has been an extremely difficult case for the crown prosecution service and police officers at merseyside police. they have had to work through chilling and disturbing footage and evidence. and i would like to thank them for their perseverance, compassion and determination to achieve justice for the victims and their families. this sentencing brings the case to an end, but the events of that day will leave a tragic legacy, that will unfortunately endure for many years. good evening. i am detective chief inspector— good evening. i am detective chief inspectorjason pye, today axel rudakubana has been sentenced for his cowardly and terrifying attack on the _ his cowardly and terrifying attack on the young girls on 29th july. although — on the young girls on 29th july. although no outcome at court today

could _ although no outcome at court today could possibly ease the pain and trauma — could possibly ease the pain and trauma for the victims and their families— trauma for the victims and their families i— trauma for the victims and their families i know hope knowing rudakubana will spend a considerable amount— rudakubana will spend a considerable amount of— rudakubana will spend a considerable amount of time in prison will at least _ amount of time in prison will at least bring _ amount of time in prison will at least bring some comfort. it is horrifying _ least bring some comfort. it is horrifying attack resulted in this deaths — horrifying attack resulted in this deaths of — horrifying attack resulted in this deaths of bebe, elsie and alice and the thoughts of everyone at merseyside police remain with their family. _ merseyside police remain with their family. his — merseyside police remain with their family, his shocking actions resulted _ family, his shocking actions resulted in serious injuries physical— resulted in serious injuries physical and psychological to the other _ physical and psychological to the other young girls and adults who will continue to be affected to this day. will continue to be affected to this day as— will continue to be affected to this day. as the judge said today, the harm _ day. as the judge said today, the harm of— day. as the judge said today, the harm of rudakubana caused each family— harm of rudakubana caused each family and child, and the community has been _ family and child, and the community has been profound and permanent. the 'ud-e has been profound and permanent. the judge added that it is likely that rudakubana will never be released and will _ rudakubana will never be released and will spend the rest of his life in custody — and will spend the rest of his life in custody. this was the most harrowing _ in custody. this was the most harrowing large—scale investigation our force _ harrowing large—scale investigation our force has ever dealt with and i wish _ our force has ever dealt with and i wish to— our force has ever dealt with and i wish to praise the commitment, dedication— wish to praise the commitment, dedication and sheer determination of the _ dedication and sheer determination of the investigation team, who have never—

of the investigation team, who have never had _ of the investigation team, who have never had to deal with anything like this before. i would like to pass on my thanks — this before. i would like to pass on my thanks to the first responders who will— my thanks to the first responders who will no doubt still be affected lry who will no doubt still be affected by what _ who will no doubt still be affected by what they witnessed, when they arrived _ by what they witnessed, when they arrived at _ by what they witnessed, when they arrived at hart space. i would like to thank— arrived at hart space. i would like to thank the crown prosecution service — to thank the crown prosecution service who have worked with us since _ service who have worked with us since the — service who have worked with us since the beginning to ensure justice — since the beginning to ensure justice was down and counter terrorism _ justice was down and counter terrorism who have provided expertise throughout. i would like to thank— expertise throughout. i would like to thank our family liaison officers who have — to thank our family liaison officers who have supported the families in every— who have supported the families in every which way they could since the beginning. _ every which way they could since the beginning, finally, although rudakubana has been sentenced to prison— rudakubana has been sentenced to prison today, the pain felt by those families— prison today, the pain felt by those families will continue for the rest of their— families will continue for the rest of their lives, and i want to pay tribute — of their lives, and i want to pay tribute to— of their lives, and i want to pay tribute to bebe, elsie and alice, you will— tribute to bebe, elsie and alice, you will never be forgotten. thank — you will never be forgotten. thank you. that is the statement that we thank you. — that is the statement that we have been waiting for since the news of the sentencing came to us, from liverpool crown court, that was the

chief investigating officer dci jason pye saying this was the most harrowing large—scale investigation merseyside police have had to deal with and their thoughts are with the first responders who had to come to the scene, and who will still be dealing with the impact of dealing with such a terrible event, as they found there lastjuly. we also heard from the chief crown prosecutor for merseyside. to recap on the events of the last few hours, axel rudakubana who pleaded guilty on monday, sentenced to a minimum of 52 year, injail nor the murder of those three little girl, at the dance class in southport, as well as the attempted murder of io dance class in southport, as well as the attempted murder of 10 other people, the