A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing an 11-year-old girl in London's theater district. The accused, a 32-year-old Romanian citizen, reportedly put the girl in a headlock and stabbed her eight times, causing serious injuries that required plastic surgery on her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck.
The incident took place around 11:30 a.m. on Monday in Leicester Square, a popular tourist area, outside a tea shop. Despite the severity of the attack, authorities have stated that there is no indication that it was terror-related, and they do not believe the suspect had any prior connection to the victim or her mother.
Quick action by bystanders, including an employee from the tea shop, prevented further harm to the child. They managed to restrain the suspect until police arrived on the scene and recovered a steak knife believed to have been used in the attack.
The girl's mother, who was initially thought to have been injured due to being covered in her daughter's blood, escaped physical harm. The suspect remains in custody and is facing charges related to the use of a knife. He is scheduled to appear at the Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey, on September 10.
This incident comes amidst a recent uptick in knife-related crimes in Britain, adding to the heightened tensions following violent clashes in various cities and towns. Far-right activists have been accused of stoking unrest by spreading false information about a separate mass stabbing incident during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event.
