A judge removed the reported restrictions on the boy during a hearing earlier today.
The teenager accused in the Southport stabbings case has been identified as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from the Banks area in Lancashire.
Judge Andrew Menary KC, Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, decided to reveal his name today after a reporting restriction was lifted.
This restriction had previously prevented the disclosure of his identity due to his age, but it was due to expire when he turns 18 next Wednesday. The decision was made at Liverpool Crown Court following a request from the media.
He is charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, after a fatal stabbing on at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Hart Street on Monday. Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five of them left in a critical condition – while two adults were also critically hurt.
Rudakubana was charged with the attempted murder of two adults, yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, as well as the attempted murder of the eight children who cannot be named for legal reasons. He is also charged with possession of a bladed article, a curved kitchen knife, the court heard.
He was remanded into custody in youth detention accommodation. Earlier today, the teenager appeared in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing.
Rudakubana arrived for an earlier appearance at a youth court at about 09:00 BST in a prison van with a large police escort.
In front of a packed press gallery, he glanced at reporters before he was asked to sit down before District Judge James Hatton.
Wearing a grey police-issued tracksuit, the defendant pulled his sweatshirt above his nose and lowered his head during the five-minute hearing, in which he did not speak. None of the families of either the victims or defendant were in court for the brief hearing, which dealt with legal administration - before Rudakabana was moved to the Crown Court.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, died after the stabbings on Hart Street in the Merseyside town, just before midday on Monday.
Eight children and two adults were also seriously injured.
Earlier on Thursday Alder Hey Children's Hospital confirmed two children who were being treated there had been discharged.
The hospital said it was continuing to treat five other children, and all were now in a stable condition.
A statement read: "We are delighted that two of the children involved in Monday's awful incident have now been discharged.
"Our heartfelt sympathies remain with all those affected by Monday's incident."
A vigil was held in memory of the victims in Southport on Tuesday night, but was followed by scenes of unrest.
Five men were arrested - with one later charged - after a police van was set alight and bricks were thrown and 53 police officers were injured.
Further disorder broke out in some towns across England, with more than 100 people arrested at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night, while there was also unrest in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was due to meet senior policing leaders later to "offer them the government's full backing", his spokesman has said.
Merseyside Police announced they were charging the boy at a midnight press conference on Thursday.
Following Monday’s attack, the families of Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar issued tributes and asked for privacy.
Bebe’s family said “no words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss”.
The family of Alice Dasilva Aguiar said "keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess".
Rudakubana was scheduled to appear at Liverpool Crown Court again on 25 October for a pre-trial preparation hearing. Follow Manchester Today on Facebook, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Newsdesk@ManchesterToday.org.uk
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