Girl attacked in Leicester Square will need plastic surgery, it has been revealed

The 11-year-old girl stabbed eight times with a steak knife in Leicester Square will need plastic surgery after receiving horrific blows to he face, shoulder, wrist and neck in what is believed to have been random attack.

The girl was an Australian tourist on holiday with her family and the attack happened in front of her 34-year-old mother when she was held in a headlock and knifed repeatedly.

Members of the public intervened in Monday’s attack – which happened at around 11.30am – and detained a man who has since appeared in court.

Ioan Pintaru, 32, a homeless man of Romanian nationality, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday. He faces charges of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon. During a brief hearing lasting 10 minutes, the charges were communicated through an interpreter.

Pintaru was remanded in custody and is next due in court at the Old Bailey on September 10. It is believed he has a four-year-old child in Manchester, but is currently without a permanent residence.

The girl’s injuries are not life-threatening, but extensive. Her mother was initially thought to have also been injured, but she was physically unharmed.

Detectives say there is no evidence linking the attack to terrorism and that it appears the suspect and victims were not known to each other.

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 for 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.

“An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened.”

Picture: Leicester Square, where the attack took place (Picture: Google Street View)