A man charged in connection with the stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in central London has been identified publicly for the first time.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, faces charges of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon, following an attack on the girl in Leicester Square, Sky News reports.
He is accused of stabbing her "eight times" after seizing her while she was with her mother.
Initial reports mistakenly suggested the girl's 34-year-old mother was also injured in the incident, but police later clarified that the blood on her was from her daughter's injuries.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Pintaru, a Romanian national with no fixed address, allegedly attacked the girl while she and her mother were visiting Leicester Square as tourists.
Prosecutor David Burns described how the man "approached the girl, placed her in a headlock, and then stabbed her eight times in the body." The girl sustained injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck.
Burns informed the court that the girl remains hospitalized and will require plastic surgery. Police were called to the scene at 11:34AM on Monday after receiving reports of the stabbing.
The girl was found with serious but not life-threatening injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital.
Pintaru has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Tuesday.
The defendant spoke only, via an interpreter, to confirm his name, and date of birth, and stated he had no fixed address.
A shop security guard recounted how he "heard a scream" and "jumped on" the attacker, restraining him and disarming him.
"I saw a child being stabbed and just tried to save her. It was my duty," said Abdullah, 29.
He added that he and his colleagues provided first aid to the girl before police arrived on the scene, which occurred within four minutes of the attack on Monday morning.
The police commended the courage of those who intervened to help.
As for Pintaru, he is due to appear at the Old Bailey in September.
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