Man in court accused of stabbing girl, 11, ‘eight times’ in Leicester Square

A man allegedly stabbed an 11-year-old girl “eight times” after grabbing her in Leicester Square while she was with her mother.

Ioan Pintaru, 32, has been charged with the attempted murder of the girl and possession of a bladed article in a public place, said in court to be a steak knife.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt.

Prosecutor David Burns said a woman and her 11-year-old daughter were in Leicester Square as tourists when a man “approached the girl, placed her into a headlock, he’s then stabbed her eight times to the body”.

He said she was wounded in the face, shoulder, wrist and neck area.

The court heard members of the public intervened and when police arrived they found a man being held on the ground.

Police were called to reports of the stabbing in the central London tourist spot at 11.34am on Monday.

The girl’s 34-year-old mother was initially thought to have also been hurt but blood from her daughter’s injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own, the Metropolitan Police said.

Her daughter was taken to hospital with serious injuries that are not life-threatening, the force added.

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Court artist sketch of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Leicester Square and the surrounding area attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week and is home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

The stabbing happened near the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Lego store and in front of the M&Ms store.

A shop security guard leapt in to help the girl as she was being attacked.

Discarded clothing and emergency medical equipment in the TWG Tea shop in Leicester Square, London
Discarded clothing and emergency medical equipment in the TWG Tea shop in Leicester Square, London, near where the incident took place (James Manning/PA)

“I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident. They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so.”

Pintaru was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 10.

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