An 11-year-old girl was stabbed eight times with a steak knife in Leicester Square, resulting in serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The attacker, Ioan Pintaru, a 32-year-old Romanian citizen with no fixed address, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. He appeared in court wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt and was remanded in custody.
The incident occurred at around 11:30 am on Monday morning at the popular tourist spot in central London. The girl and her mother, who were visiting as tourists, were near the TWG Tea shop when the attack took place. The young victim was rushed to the hospital where she underwent plastic surgery for wounds to her face, neck, shoulder, and wrist.
Initially, it was believed that the girl’s mother had also been injured, but it was later clarified that she was unharmed and the blood seen was from her daughter’s injuries. Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah described the incident as horrific and expressed support for the victims and their family.
Members of the public and local business staff who intervened in the attack were praised for their bravery by the authorities. Pintaru is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey on September 10 for further proceedings related to the case. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to this shocking incident.
