A 17-year-old from Merseyside has admitted to terrorism offences after police uncovered his plans to carry out a copycat attack inspired by the Southport killings, targeting a Taylor Swift-themed event.
Court Appearance and Guilty Pleas
The teenager, who is white and from Kirkby, cannot be named due to his age. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was shaven-headed and dressed in black. He spoke only to enter his pleas.
The youth pleaded guilty to possessing a series of extremist manuals and documents. These included the Improvised Munitions Handbook, the Anarchist Cookbook 2000, a recipe for manufacturing the poison ricin, and the same al-Qaeda training manual used by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. The documents were downloaded between 21 January and 6 May 2025.
Details of the Copycat Plot
Prosecutors outlined how the teen's plans mirrored those of Rudakubana, who murdered three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on 29 July 2024. The defendant had visited Southport, taken photographs, and collected knives.
He specifically researched a Taylor Swift-themed event as a potential target and told officers he had visited the location. On his phone, police found AI-generated poetry honouring Rudakubana and notes referencing incel culture, including terms like "spurgcels" and "Axelcels".
The plot came to light on 6 August 2025 when the teenager called 999 from his grandparents' house. He told the operator he was "captivated" by violence and had planned to copy Rudakubana, but had "postponed it" due to a lack of suitable events nearby.
Prosecution and Sentencing
The prosecution, led by Adam Birkby, decided not to proceed with a separate charge of making threats to kill, stating it was not in the public interest given the defendant's age and circumstances. The teen was not charged with preparing terrorist acts, as prosecutors did not deem his plans targeting schoolchildren or driven by misogyny as "ideological".
Judge Neil Flewitt KC remanded the youth in detention and ordered pre-sentence and psychiatric reports ahead of sentencing in March 2026. He told the defendant it was "highly likely you will have to remain in custody for a longer period". While the offences carry a maximum 15-year sentence for an adult, the lack of a proven terrorist motive means he will receive a much lower term.
Like Rudakubana, the boy is thought to have autism and had dropped out of school. It is understood he was known to social services and had received treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
