A newly released video captures the moments leading up to a horrifying attack in Southport, showing 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana calmly entering a community center before launching a brutal stabbing spree.
The footage, taken from a taxi’s dashcam, reveals him walking through the open doors of the Hart Space building and slowly making his way upstairs—just moments before he stormed into a Taylor Swift-themed dance class and took the lives of three young children.
The Taxi Dispute That Preceded the Attack
Additional footage from a BBC Panorama documentary highlights an earlier encounter between Rudakubana and a taxi driver who pursued him over an unpaid fare.
After arriving from his family home in Banks, five miles from Southport, Rudakubana left the taxi without paying.
When the driver demanded the fare, Rudakubana dismissed him, responding, “What are you gonna do about it?”
A nearby mechanic, Colin Parry, recalled that Rudakubana’s eyes seemed empty as he ignored the confrontation.
The dashcam video shows the driver trailing him up a lane, issuing a final warning: “You pay now, or the police are on their f*****g way.”
Moments later, Rudakubana reached the Hart Centre, first attempting a locked door before slipping in through an unlocked entrance.
Terrifying Moments Inside the Dance Class
As the attacker moved up the stairs, a dance class was in session, with children participating in a bracelet-making activity.
Without warning, Rudakubana burst into the room and began his deadly assault.
Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, six-year-old Bebe King, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar were tragically killed.
One of the instructors, Leanne Lucas, later recounted how she fought to get herself and several children to safety despite suffering multiple stab wounds to her spine, head, ribs, lung, and shoulder blade.
“I just knew that if I didn’t get out, everyone was going to die,” she recalled.
A 13-year-old girl, referred to as Sarah in the documentary, described how the attacker appeared “possessed” as he stabbed her.
Despite her injuries, she managed to help several children escape.
Desperate Efforts to Save Lives
Outside the building, witnesses scrambled to assist the victims. Window cleaners Marcin Tyjon and Joel Verite saw children running in panic and a woman covered in blood.
Verite carried Alice da Silva Aguiar outside to Tyjon, who attempted to revive her while waiting for emergency responders.
Verite even ventured inside the building to rescue more children but quickly retreated upon seeing Rudakubana still wielding a large knife.
Meanwhile, businessman John Hayes, who worked in a nearby office, heard the commotion and stepped out—only to be confronted by Rudakubana standing over one of the victims.
As Hayes tried to back away, Rudakubana followed him into his office, slashing at him before stabbing him in the leg. Hayes collapsed from his injuries.
Police Response and Dramatic Arrest
Police bodycam footage captured the intense moments as officers arrived at the scene.
A bystander warned them, “Don’t go in. You need a fing gun, mate. He’s got a fing knife.”
When backup arrived, officers stormed the building, finding Rudakubana standing at the top of the stairs with the weapon still in hand.
Detective Chief Superintendent Matt Smith detailed how officers ordered him to drop the knife, which he eventually did.
He was then tasered, restrained, and searched for additional weapons before being dragged out of the building.
Inside, police discovered the tragic aftermath, including the lifeless bodies of the young victims and terrified children huddling in corners, seeking safety.
Sentencing and Survivors’ Harrowing Accounts
In January, Rudakubana was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years after admitting to the murders.
Alongside the three children he killed, he also attempted to murder eight other children—whose identities are protected for legal reasons—as well as businessman John Hayes and instructor Leanne Lucas.
During the BBC documentary, Lucas shared her traumatic experience for the first time, describing how she managed to lead children to safety despite her severe injuries.
“We were shouting: ‘Run!’” she recalled. “I called 999 on the landing and begged for the police.”
Sarah, the young survivor, also described how she pushed children down the stairs, determined to get them out.
“I thought he wasn’t going to stop until he killed everyone,” she said.
Even after escaping, Lucas, bleeding heavily, pleaded with people on the street to help the children.
“My brain was going 100 miles an hour, but my body wouldn’t do anything,” she said.
“I just kept telling them, ‘Go and get the children.’”
Final Moments Before Capture
Court footage detailed how, within seconds of entering the upstairs room, screams filled the air as children fled.
CCTV showed an eight-year-old girl being briefly pulled back inside by Rudakubana before managing to escape.
Another clip revealed officers discovering a teacher, Heidi Liddle, crying in a bathroom, with an officer reassuring her, “Listen, you’re safe.”
The horrifying attack has left a lasting impact on the community, but the bravery of the survivors and first responders shines through in their harrowing accounts.
As more details emerge, the focus remains on the victims and those who risked their lives to protect the innocent.