LONDON. A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering three young girls and injuring 10 others at a children’s dance class in northwest England has been identified as Axel Rudakubana. The teenager appeared in court for the first time on Thursday.
The decision to name the suspect, a rare move for a minor, was made by Judge Andrew Menary who cited the upcoming adulthood of the accused and the spread of misinformation surrounding his identity. The judge expressed concern that the absence of official information could fuel further unrest.
The attack on Monday, which targeted a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, has shocked the nation and sparked a wave of violent protests. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has summoned police chiefs to address the growing crisis.
Rudakubana faces three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. The victims include nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and six-year-old Bebe King. Two adults, dance instructor Leanne Lucas and bystander John Hayes, were also critically injured.
The suspect, who was born in Britain, has not been charged with terrorism offenses. Police have not revealed a motive for the attack, but they have confirmed that a kitchen knife was used.
The incident has been exploited by far-right groups who have falsely linked the attack to immigration and Islam. These claims have been refuted by authorities.
Despite the arrest of over 100 people, violent protests have erupted in several cities, including London, Manchester, and Hartlepool. Police have faced attacks with missiles and vehicles have been set on fire.
The government has condemned the violence and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
