A thirty-two-year-old man was brought to court today on charges of attempting to kill a girl in London's “Leicester” square, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
The prosecutor's office indicated that the attack was carried out “randomly”. Ioan Pintaru will also be responsible for possession of a sharp object. An 11-year-old girl was stabbed eight times yesterday in Leicester Square, a popular tourist spot in central London where many cinemas and theaters are located.
London's Metropolitan Police said the child was seriously injured, although her injuries were not life-threatening. The girl's 34-year-old mother was initially believed to have also been injured, but police later said the blood on her was from her daughter's wounds.
Pintaru appeared outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today wearing a gray tracksuit. Before the court, he confirmed only his name and date of birth. Prosecutor David Burns said the injured child and her mother, who were tourists in London, arrived at Leicester Square. just before the incident, which he said was a “random attack on a child”. “The defendant approached the 11-year-old girl, grabbed her tightly and stabbed her eight times in the body,”, Burns said. The court did not give Pintaru an opportunity to make any objections. He remains in custody until the next court hearing on September 10.