Teenage suspect in stabbing at UK Taylor Swift-themed event charged with terrorism

The teenaged suspect in the United Kingdom who has been accused of fatally stabbing three people at a Taylor Swift-themed event, was charged on Tuesday with two new crimes, including one count of terrorism.

Axel Rudakubana was previously charged in July with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and one charge of possession of a knife after he allegedly went on a stabbing spree in Southport, England. The spree resulted in the deaths of three children, and 10 people were injured.

The new charges come after Merseyside Police conducted searches of the 18-year-old suspect's home. During the searches, police reportedly found a jihadi training manual, prompting the terror charge, per ABC News. He has also been charged with producing the deadly poison ricin. The poison was not detected at the scene of the crime.

"Following the announcement of the further charges today I wanted to reassure the public of Southport, and Merseyside, that we are committed to achieving justice for the families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice, the 10 victims who were injured at the Hart Space in Southport on that Monday, in July, and the other 16 people who were present," Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said in a statement.

Kennedy added that the police have not labeled the attack a "terrorist incident," but that the charge was under the Terrorism Act. She also cautioned the public not to assert a motive in the case. 

The new charges come ahead of Rudakubana's scheduled virtual court appearance on Wednesday. He is expected to be tried in the case in January of 2025.

"We have worked extensively with partners to establish that there was a low to very low risk to the public - and I want to make that reassurance clear today," Kennedy said.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.