Suspect in murder of three British girls refuses to speak in court

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The teenage suspect in the July stabbing murders of three young girls that sparked anti-immigration riots refused to comment Wednesday as he appeared in court to face new charges.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, held his jumper over the lower half of his face as he appeared via video from a London prison for a brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

When asked to confirm his name, he did not respond, and a security guard who accompanied him in prison told the court that he had decided not to speak.

His lawyer Stan Reiz said: “Mr Rudakubana has also remained silent at previous hearings.”

“For his own reasons, he chose not to answer the question.”

Rudakubana had to stand trial for the additional offenses of producing the biological poison ricin and possessing information that could be used to carry out a terrorist attack.

He has already been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a knife in connection with the July 29 knife attacks in which three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England.

Judge Paul Goldspring ordered Rudakubana to remain in custody pending a full trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The trial is scheduled to begin in January.

When announcing the two new charges, police emphasized that the knife attack, which also injured ten other people, was not classified as a terrorist attack.

According to police, the new charges relate to evidence police obtained during searches of Rudakubana's home after the attack.

“For an incident to be classified as a terrorist incident, the motivation behind it must be clarified,” Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said.

“We urge caution for anyone speculating about the motives in this case,” she said, adding that “a fair trial” must be ensured.

The knife attacks sparked a week of riots and unrest in more than a dozen English and Northern Irish cities.

Authorities blame right-wing extremist agitators for fueling the violence, including by spreading false information about the identity of the alleged attacker.

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