A man has been charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square. Ioan Pinatru, 32, of no fixed address, also faces charges of possessing a bladed article.
Initially, it was believed that the girl’s mother had been injured, but it was later clarified that her daughter’s blood was mistaken for her own wounds. The girl was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Mr. Pinatru has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Police were alerted to the incident in central London at 11:30 BST on Monday.
Det Ch Supt Christina Jessah commended those who intervened, stating, “They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so.” Authorities are working to determine the suspect’s motive and have urged anyone with information to come forward.