Man Arrested in Connection with Stabbing of 11-Year-Old Girl in Leicester Square

A man has been accused of attempted murder following a stabbing incident involving an 11-year-old girl in the heart of London’s tourist area.

Ioan Pintaru, 32, with no fixed address, has also been charged with possession of a bladed item and has been held in custody for his appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Authorities were alerted to the stabbing in Leicester Square at 11:34 a.m. on Monday morning.

The Metropolitan Police clarified that although initially reported that the girl’s mother, aged 34, was also harmed, it was later confirmed that the blood seen was from her daughter’s wounds, not her own injuries.

The injured girl was transported to the hospital with serious injuries that are fortunately not life-threatening, according to the police.

Law enforcement officials state that there is no connection between the victim and the suspect, and the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.

Leicester Square and its vicinity draw around 2.5 million visitors weekly and are a prominent part of London’s theatre district, attracting tourists to its variety of shops, dining places, and entertainment venues.

The stabbing incident occurred close to the TWG Tea shop, adjacent to the Lego store and opposite the M&M’s London sweet store.

During the attack, a store security guard intervened to assist the girl.

Det. Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah expressed, “This is a terrible incident, and our sympathies are with the victims and their loved ones. We will continue to offer them support in the days and weeks ahead. I want to commend the courageous individuals from the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely stepped in during this incident. They put themselves at risk and displayed the best of London in their actions.”