Teenager charged with murder of UK girls in Southport charged with terrorism offence.

LONDON – A teenager accused of murdering three girls in a knife attack in northern England in July has also been charged with terrorism offences, including the production of ricin, police and prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, is accused of killing the three young women at a Taylor Swift dance event in Southport, murders that shocked the nation and sparked days of unrest across the country.

Police said the incident was not yet being treated as terrorism-related, but said Rudakubana had now been charged with two further offences: production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of an al-Qaeda training manual.

“The matter for which Axel Rudakubana has been charged under the Terrorism Act does not require a motive to be established,” Merseyside Police Chief Serena Kennedy said. “For a matter to be declared a terrorist incident, motivation would need to be established.” REUTERS