ENGLAND: Teenager Who Killed 3 Girls at Taylor Swift Dance Class in U.K. Sentenced to Over 50 Years in Prison - A teenager who brutally stabbed 3 young girls at one Taylor Swift-themed-dance-class in England was sentenced to over 50 years in prison on January 23. The Judge termed the crime as shocking, extreme, and exceptionally serious - Judge Julian Goose told 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana that he had aimed to carry out a mass murder of innocent young girls. The judge explained that because Rudakubana was under 18 when he committed the crime, a life sentence without parole could not be imposed. However, the judge ordered that Rudakubana must serve 52 years in prison before being eligible for parole, with little chance of release. The attack took place in Southport, a coastal town, in July when Rudakubana was 17. He killed Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, while also injuring eight other girls between the ages of 7 and 13. He also harmed their teacher, Leanne Lucas, and John Hayes, a local businessman who tried to intervene. The attack shocked the entire nation and led to a wave of violence on the streets. It also prompted a public inquiry into how authorities had failed to prevent Rudakubana, who had been reported multiple times for violent tendencies. Rudakubana faced multiple charges, including three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder. He also faced charges for possessing a knife, ricin poison, and an al-Qaeda manual. He unexpectedly pled guilty to all charges earlier this week. He was not present in court to hear his sentence. When proceedings began, Rudakubana interrupted by complaining of feeling ill and requesting a paramedic. He was removed from the courtroom after continuing to disrupt the session, with someone in the courtroom shouting, "Coward!" as he was taken out. Prosecutor Deanna Heer described the terrifying scene during the attack, which occurred on the first day of summer vacation. Twenty-six young girls were gathered at the dance class, making bracelets and singing along to Taylor Swift songs when Rudakubana entered with a large knife and began his violent spree. Video footage showed Rudakubana arriving at the venue by taxi, quickly followed by screams and children fleeing in panic. Two of the victims suffered horrific injuries, one with 122 wounds and the other with 85. The prosecutor stated that Rudakubana had a deep obsession with violence and killing, targeting the most vulnerable members of society. When arrested, he was heard making chilling remarks, stating that he was "glad" the children were dead. The tragic killings stirred widespread anti-immigrant violence as false claims spread that Rudakubana was an asylum seeker. Rudakubana was born in Wales to Christian parents from Rwanda, and although he had a history of violent behavior, his true motivations remain unclear. Authorities found documents related to violent topics, including the Rwandan genocide and car bombs, but could not establish a clear political or religious motive. In the past, Rudakubana had been reported to the authorities multiple times for his violent interests. He had once called a children’s helpline asking what to do if he wanted to kill someone, and had previously been convicted for attacking a student with a hockey stick. He was also referred three times to the Prevent anti-extremism program, but these concerns were not acted upon in time to prevent the tragedy. While the attack did not meet the criteria for terrorism, it raised alarm about a new kind of threat from individuals whose motivations do not follow traditional political or religious lines. Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged that the country must confront this evolving danger posed by violent individuals. The courtroom was filled with emotional testimonies from survivors and victims' families. Teacher Leanne Lucas spoke about the toll the attack had taken on her, while a 14-year-old survivor described the mental trauma she would carry for the rest of her life. The parents of Alice Da Silva Aguiar expressed how their daughter’s death had "shattered their souls." The sentencing of Axel Rudakubana highlights the devastating impact of mindless violence and serves as a grim reminder of the need for greater awareness and action to prevent such tragedies from occurring.