A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square.
Police rushed to the London tourist hotspot on Monday morning following reports of an incident near the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Lego store and in front of the M&Ms store, at around 11.30am.
The 11-year-old victim was found with stab wounds. She was taken to hospital where her injuries, while serious, were assessed as non-life threatening.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning, wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt. The court heard the 32-year-old is a Romanian citizen of no fixed address.
Prosecutor David Burns said the child and her mother were in Leicester Square as tourists when she was stabbed eight times with a steak knife. He added: “I understand that she required plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained.”
It was initially believed that the girl’s mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also hurt – however, it was later confirmed that blood from her daughter’s injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own.
Girl stabbed ‘eight times with steak knife’ in Leicester Square attack that left her needing plastic surgery
Ioan Pintaru, 32, of no fixed address, was also charged with possession of a bladed article early on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt.
Read the full report here:
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 12:24
Man appears in court charged with attempted murder of girl, 11, in Leicester Square
A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt.
The court heard Pintaru is a Romanian citizen of no fixed address and the charges were read to him through an interpreter during the 10-minute hearing.
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 12:03
In pictures: Scene of knife attack that happened in daylight in central London tourist hotspot
![Police rushed to Leicester Square on Monday morning following reports of an incident near the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Lego store and in front of the M&Ms store](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/13/11/01J53E09SYR04QTEWRPXRVENH0.jpg)
![Police officers at the scene in Leicester Square in central London](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/13/07/faa068b87c46ce5ae59bcfc3a86d2963Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNjE0OTkx-2.77139816.jpg)
![The 11-year-old victim was found with stab wounds at the London tourist hotspot](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/13/11/01J53G3FR11ZBNW8H1AXYAVSF5.jpg)
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 11:44
Police say thoughts are with victims of ‘horrific’ Leicester Square knife attack
Police have said their thoughts are with the victims of the “horrific” stabbing attack in Leicester Square yesterday as the force continues to support them and their loved ones.
Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: “This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family. We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks.”
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 10:00
Police issue update on stabbing attack injuries
Police have confirmed that the mother of the girl knifed in the Leicester Square attack was not hurt in the assault.
It was initially believed that the 11-year-old girl’s mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also hurt in the stabbing – however, it was later confirmed that blood from her daughter’s injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own.
The 11-year-old’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
A police spokesman said: “It was initially believed that the girl’s mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also hurt, however it was later confirmed that blood from her daughter’s injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own.”
![The scene in Leicester Square after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/13/07/17158d8c9b1cd18693b518d36ee68aeaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNjE3MTMx-2.77140014.jpg)
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 09:34
Suspect charged with 11-year-old girl’s attempted murder to appear in court today
The man who has been charged with attempted murder after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed in Leicester Square is set to appear in court today.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, of no fixed address, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article and was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning.
Tara Cobham13 August 2024 08:32
Man charged with attempted murder
A man has been charged following the stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, of no fixed address was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later this morning.
Police were called to Leicester Square at 11:34hrs on Monday, 12 August following reports of a stabbing.
An 11-year-old girl was found with stab wounds. She was taken to hospital where her injuries, while serious, were assessed as non-life threatening.
It was initially believed that the girl’s mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also hurt however it was later confirmed that blood from her daughter’s injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own.
Sam Rkaina13 August 2024 06:51
Recap: Everything we know so far
Here’s a roundup of everything we know about the attack in Leicester Square on Monday:
- An 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were stabbed at about 11.35am on Monday, 12 August, in Leicester Square opposite the popular M&M store.
- A man, aged 32, has been arrested and remains in custody
- The victims and suspect are not known to each other. The incident is not being treated as terror-related and the police are not searching for anyone else.
- Both victims were taken to a major trauma centre but did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The child required hospital treatment while the woman received more minor injuries.
Alex Ross13 August 2024 04:00
Security guard describes moment he disarmed Leicester Square knifeman
Holly Evans13 August 2024 02:00
Girl, 11, and woman stabbed in Leicester Square as man arrested
Along with the assistance of other members of the public, Abdullah, 29, managed to detain the suspect until the arrival of emergency services, who arrested him at the scene.
Both victims were taken to major trauma centres, with the young girl requiring hospital treatment for her injuries, which are not life-threatening, and the woman suffering more minor wounds.
Read the full report here:
Holly Evans13 August 2024 00:00