British teenager pleads guilty to murdering three girls in Southport

LONDON -- A British teenager on Monday admitted to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Lancashire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on what was scheduled to be the first day of his trial. He pleaded guilty to the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7.

Rudakubana also admitted to 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife used in the July 29 attack, Sky News reported.

In addition, he pleaded guilty to producing ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual, which were reportedly discovered during a subsequent search of his home in Banks, Lancashire.

Police have stated that the attack is not being treated as terror-related.

The judge, Justice Goose, indicated that Rudakubana would receive a life sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

The Southport attack triggered a wave of riots across Britain after online posts falsely claimed the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the country by boat.