Leicester Square stabbing: Girl, 11, knifed 8 times by stranger will need plastic surgery

A girl of 11 stabbed eight times in a random attack in Leicester Square will need plastic surgery, a court has been told.

She was on holiday in London with her mother when a knifeman pounced with a steak knife, grabbing her in a headlock and stabbing her repeatedly in the face, neck, shoulder and wrist in a frenzied attack.

Romanian Ioan Pintaru, 32, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

District Judge Michael Snow described the stabbing as a “random attack on a child in public”, leaving her seriously injured. Tourists in one of the capital’s busiest spots witnessed the attack at 11.34am on Monday.

The incident outside a tearoom beside the Lego store, could have proved fatal but for a shop security guard who jumped on top of the assailant, disarming him and restraining him until police arrived four minutes later.

Police initially feared that the girl’s 34-year-old mother had also been injured, but it later emerged that she had been covered with her daughter’s blood as she tried to help her.

Wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, Pintaru spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth when he appeared in court assisted by a Romanian interpreter.

Prosecutor David Burns said: “The complainant and her daughter, who were tourists, were in the Leicester Square area.

“The defendant has approached the 11-year-old girl, placed her into a headlock, he has then stabbed her eight times to the body. She sustained wounds to face, shoulder, wrist and neck area.

“Fortunately members of the public intervened which prevented any further injury being made to the child. Officers were called and found the defendant being held by members of the public.

“He was detained and found with a knife. The complainant was taken to hospital.

“I understand she will require plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained.”

The 32-year-old suspect is a long-distance lorry driver who is in the UK legally.

He has a four-year-old daughter and has previously lived in Manchester, although he is currently homeless, the court heard.

Photographs on social media reveal him cuddling his child and driving around Europe as part of his job for a freight company.

Pintaru was remanded in custody yesterday and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 10.

Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: “This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family.

“We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks.

“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.”