Southport stabbings suspect refuses to answer question as he covers his face in court

Axel Rudakubana, 18, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh on Wednesday morning for a 10 minute hearing to face two new criminal offences.

But sat holding his sweater over the bottom half of his face he failed to respond when asked to confirm his name, and a security officer with him at the prison told the court he had chosen not to speak.

Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire but originally from Cardiff, faces the additional charges of production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

His barrister Stan Reiz KC, told the court: "Mr Rudakubana has remained silent at previous hearings as well. For reasons of his own he has chosen not to answer the question."

Instead, the barrister confirmed his client's identity and proceedings continued.

Addressing the defendant later in the hearing, the chief magistrate, district judge Paul Goldspring, asked whether the teenager would nod to signal his understanding - but he did not react.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC applied for the new charges to be sent to Liverpool Crown Court to "link up" with the other charges Rudakubana faces relating to the July Southport incident.

She confirmed to the judge that the matters were "related".

Rudakubana is already charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven - stabbed at the dance class in Hart Street, Southport, on July 29th.

He is also charged with the attempted murder of eight other children, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, and possession of a knife.

Judge Goldspring remanded Rudakubana in custody on the new charges and sent the case to Liverpool Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 13.

He said: "The prosecution will ask the judge to link up matters together."