Axel Rudakubana Charged with Prison Assaults and Weapon Possession at HMP Belmarsh

Axel Rudakubana, convicted of murdering three children in the Southport dance class attack, has been charged with three separate assaults on prison staff and possessing a weapon while detained at HMP Belmarsh. The offences allegedly occurred over a six-month period from May to October. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink on 11 September.

The Charges and Timeline

Rudakubana faces four charges stemming from incidents at HMP Belmarsh, including multiple counts of assault against prison staff and one count of possessing a weapon. According to the Metropolitan Police, he was charged on 28 July and will answer the allegations during a remote court appearance scheduled for 11 September.

The charges cover a period spanning six months, with alleged incidents recorded between May and October. His transfer to a secure psychiatric hospital occurred in late July, following the decision by the Ministry of Justice to move him from standard prison custody.

Background and Sentencing

Rudakubana, now 19, murdered Elsie Dot Stancombe (age 7), Bebe King (age 6), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (age 9) during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024. He also injured eight other children and two adults in the same incident. In January, he received a 52-year prison sentence; the judge was unable to impose a whole-life order because Rudakubana was under 18 at the time of the attack, though authorities have indicated he is unlikely ever to be released.

His recent transfer to Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire, occurred under provisions of the Mental Health Act. The Ministry of Justice had limited discretion regarding the transfer, as doctors' clinical recommendations typically require acceptance in such circumstances. The decision prompted criticism from legal representatives of the victims' families.