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Tourist Girl, 11, Stabbed 8 Times in Random Leicester Square Attack—Homeless Romanian Immigrant Charged with Attempted Murder!

  • Writer: Bénédict Tarot Freeman
    Bénédict Tarot Freeman
  • Aug 13, 2024
  • 3 min read

Hi and welcome to this to this Vidoe Production News, Crime Update,



Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Leicester Square Stabbing: 11-Year-Old Girl Faces Plastic Surgery Following Brutal Attack


London’s Leicester Square, typically buzzing with tourists and locals alike, was the scene of a harrowing attack on August 12th, when an 11-year-old girl was brutally stabbed eight times in a seemingly random act of violence. Ioan Pintaru, a 32-year-old Romanian citizen with no fixed address, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with the attack. This incident marks yet another grim chapter in the city’s ongoing struggle with knife crime.


The attack occurred in broad daylight at 11:34 AM, as the young victim, visiting London with her mother, was exploring the popular tourist hotspot. According to prosecutors, Pintaru approached the girl, placed her in a headlock, and proceeded to stab her multiple times with a steak knife. The child sustained severe injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck. In the immediate aftermath, it was mistakenly believed that the girl’s 34-year-old mother had also been injured, but police later clarified that the blood on her was from her daughter’s wounds.


Thanks to the quick intervention of brave bystanders, who restrained the assailant, further harm was prevented. Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, taking Pintaru into custody. The weapon used—a steak knife, not a machete or so-called zombie knife often associated with such attacks—was found on his person.


Pintaru appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 13th, where the severity of the charges against him was made clear. The court proceedings were delayed as they sought a Romanian interpreter, highlighting that Pintaru, despite residing in the UK, was unable to communicate in English. Dressed in a grey prison-issue tracksuit, Pintaru was formally charged with the attempted murder of the young girl and the possession of a bladed article.


The court heard chilling details of the attack, with Prosecutor David Burns recounting how Pintaru repeatedly stabbed the girl in a random, unprovoked act of violence. The girl, who will now require plastic surgery, remains in the hospital, where she is receiving ongoing treatment.


District Judge Michael Snow, presiding over the case, ordered that Pintaru be remanded in custody due to the "nature and seriousness of the allegations." The judge emphasized that these charges will be tried at the Central Criminal Court, with Pintaru scheduled to appear by video link on September 10th.


Other background details about Pintaru’s background where also released. He is a Romanian national with no fixed address in the UK, and the court was told that he has a four-year-old child living in Manchester.


The Metropolitan Police continue their investigation into the attack, with Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah leading the efforts. Jessah confirmed that there is no evidence to suggest the attack was terror-related, and there is no indication that Pintaru knew his victims. She praised the courageous members of the public who intervened, preventing further tragedy.


“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,” said DCS Jessah. She also urged anyone with information, footage, or images related to the incident to come forward, stressing the importance of public assistance in such cases.


This brutal attack serves as a stark reminder of the persistent issue of knife crime in London. Despite what appear to be futile ongoing efforts to curb the use of dangerous weapons, this incident serves to further underscores the fact that more often than not it’s everyday objects, such as a steak knife, that become the tools of violence.


Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.


Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

VPN City-Desk

 
 
 

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