Southport knife rampage suspect 'appeared in a West End musical after joining theatre group to make friends'

The Southport knife suspect, accused of killing three little girls, once appeared in a West End musical, it has been reported.

Axel Rudakubana was named and pictured for the first time today after a reporting restriction was lifted.  

The 17-year-old is accused of carrying out the attack that killed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

He is also accused of the attempted murders of eight more children, along with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes. 

According to old schoolmates of Rudakubana, he was a 'very quiet' boy who just 'turned up in class one day'.

Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents in 2006 before his family relocated to the Merseyside town in 2013. 

Pupils at his school were told to 'make him [the suspect] welcome, because he's just moved from far away'.

The friend told The Times: 'I think it was more him trying to branch out and meet kids in the community … he was enjoying it but you know, with musical theatre kids … they're very extroverted. 

'He wasn't, he was very quiet. He didn't really talk about himself that much.' 

The friend said that while he was 'quiet' his brother, who was previously described a 'wilder and more boisterous', 'was a lot more talkative'.  He father 'came across quite educated and presentable,' they added.

Rudakubana was part of a school drama group that once took part in a show at the Shaftesbury Theatre on the West End.

On another occasion, the threatre group that Rudakubana was part of, which included 'singing, dancing and musical theatre, created 'their own movie' which was reportedly shown at a Vue cinema where they  

'He wasn't a normal theatre kid. He wasn't pushing for main leads and stuff like that,' the friends father added. 'When they went to London, he'd just got involved, he enjoyed it.'

Up until now, the teenager's identity could not be revealed because suspects under 18 receive automatic anonymity in all UK court cases, except for in exceptional circumstances.

But after a successful application to the judge by the Mail, Rudakubana's name can now be reported. 

Judge Andrew Menary KC said he had to balance the risk to the suspect's family and the risk to him in custody with the public interest accurately reporting his identity.

Far-right mobs took to the streets of Southport and and other major UK cities this week after a fake news website spread misinformation about the identity of the suspect.

Russian state media were among those falsely claiming that the suspect had arrived by boat to the UK last year, sharing claims that he was on an M16 watch list.

It led to violent riots, seeing dozens of police officers injured, wheelie bins set alight and emergency vehicles set on fire. 

In a bid to quell tensions - after more riots broke out in London, Manchester Hartlepool, and Aldershot - Jude Menary revealed Rudakubana's identity.

The revelation comes as two children hurt in the attack were discharged from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, with five others in a 'stable condition'. 

Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said he had to balance the risk to the defendant's family and the initial risk while in custody against the public interest in accurately reporting his identity. 

He said: 'By continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has the disadvantage of allowing others who are up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation in a vacuum and runs the risk that when the information becomes publicly available in six days' time, that will provide an additional excuse for a fresh round of public disorder.

'Allowing full reporting will undoubtedly remove some of the misreporting as to the identity of the defendant.'

A provisional trial date at Liverpool Crown Court, set to last six weeks, was scheduled for January 20 next year.

Rudakubana spent the entire 55 minutes of the hearing covering his whole face, with his grey sweatshirt pulled up to his hairline and at times rocking back and forth, side to side.

He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on October 25 for a plea and trial preparation hearing. 

Until then he will be remanded in youth accommodation detention.

Judge Menary told the defendant, who did not acknowledge the judge and continued to keep his head down: 'You are remanded to youth detention accommodation until these proceedings have been completed.

'That position might change when you achieve your majority in a short while.'

Earlier today, the suspect attended a hearing at Liverpool City Magistrates' Court which lasted just five minutes.

During proceedings, prosecutor Deanna Heer alleged a 'kitchen knife with a curved blade' had been used during the rampage. 

During that time Rudakubana, who is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon, wore  a baggy grey tracksuit and black slippers and pulled his sweatshirt over his face above his nose, keeping his head low.

At one point in the hearing, the teenager, who did not speak once, looked back at the group of around 20 reporters that were sat behind the dock.  

The suspect arrived at the court around 9.30am in a white prison van flanked by a large escort of at least eight police vehicles.

The large police presence comes amid fears angry protesters will turn up outside the courthouse, after a series of riots have swept the country in recent days.

More than 100 people were arrested in London last night following a far-right protest in Whitehall, with further unrest in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot. 

On Tuesday night, an angry mob took to the streets of Southport after a vigil to remember victims of the mass stabbing at the workshop attended by 25 children.

It came after misinformation spread by fake news websites and Russian state media wrongly identifying the suspect.

The false claim said the suspect had arrived to the UK by boat last year sharing claims he was an M16 watchlist.

It led to violent riots in Southport and beyond which saw  dozens of police officers injured, wheelie bins set alight and emergency vehicles set on fire. 

The defendant is accused of entering a dance studio in Hart Street and attacking children and adults who were inside on Monday afternoon.

Eight other children suffered knife wounds - with five left in a critical condition in hospital - while two adults who tried to save the young ones in the summer holiday club were also seriously wounded.

The adults harmed were dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes who tried to help.