Ioan Pintaru stabs girl outside legoland Leicester Square, case 4

The mother and daughter attacked by a knifeman in Leicester Square on august 2024 are Australian tourists.

The Australian (DFAT) said it was in contact with the 34-year-old mother and child after the 11-year-old was stabbed “eight times” in central London

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to two Australians injured in London,”

Ioan Pintaru, 32, has been charged with the attempted murder of the girl and possession of a bladed article in a public place, said in court to be a steak knife.

Prosecutor David Burns told the court a woman and her 11-year-old daughter were in Leicester Square as tourists when a man “approached the girl, placed her into a headlock, he’s then stabbed her eight times to the body”.

Ioan Pintaru, a Romanian national with no fixed address, is also charged with possession of a bladed article.The court heard that Mr Pintaru allegedly approached two tourists - the girl and her mother - in Leicester Square at about 11.30 BST.

The girl sustained injuries to her face, shoulder, neck and wrist during the attack, the court was told.She is likely to undergo plastic surgery as a result of her injuries, the court heard.Mr Pintaru only spoke, via an interpreter, to confirm his name, date of birth, and that he had no fixed address.

Authorities haven't offered a motive for the attack, but police said there was no suggestion the stabbing was terror-related and they don't believe the suspect knew the girl or her mother, who was also stabbed during the attack. Pintaru, 32, a Romanian citizen,

Pintaru, 32, was remanded in custody, appearing in court in a grey prison sweatshirt. The random nature of the attack on tourists has deeply unsettled the public, while the bravery shown by the girl, her mother, and bystanders continues to inspire international attention.

A witness described how the man attacked the woman first and then got the 11-year-old in a "headlock", they told Sky News, stabbing her repeatedly before two people were able to get the knifeman restrained until police could arrive.

"I heard a scream and I just went outside and saw one guy had a knife," Abdullah told the BBC. "The moment I saw it I just jumped on that guy and grabbed his hand... and put him down on the floor and kicked the knife away from him."

Hero Abdullah, 29, who works at TWG tea by the scene

A couple of other men also came to help and held the man down for "four to five" minutes, Abdullah said. He described his decision to run towards the knifeman, saying: "I had no time, I just didn't think. To do this to a kid, it's horrible."

Speaking to the PA news agency, the shop security guard: "I heard a scream, at that moment I saw there was one person, roughly (in their) mid-30s or early 30s, and he was like stabbing a kid - I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was (carrying) a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him.

"Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came, it took maybe three to four minutes for the police to arrive and then they just took him into custody." He and his colleagues gave first aid to the child before the police joined in, he said. "I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. It's my duty to just save them.

His courage did not go unnoticed. Recognized for his bravery, Abdullah was honored by the Pakistani High Commission, which celebrated his selflessness and willingness to risk his own safety to protect a stranger in need. His swift intervention undoubtedly prevented further harm to Laila, embodying the bravery and kindness that can emerge in moments of crisis.

Laila Johnson’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, bravery, and the incredible support of bystanders and family. Attacked suddenly in Leicester Square during a family sightseeing trip, the 11-year-old Australian girl endured multiple stab wounds, sustaining injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck. Yet, in a remarkable display of determination, Laila managed to attend the Taylor Swift concert she'd flown across the world to see just a day later.

With stitches and support from her mother and two Metropolitan Police officers who aided her after the assault, she joined thousands of fans to dance and enjoy Swift’s Wembley Stadium show.

Her mother, Samantha Johnson, described the attack as entirely unexpected, coming immediately after they exited a nearby store. The random act of violence, allegedly perpetrated by Ioan Pintaru, a Romanian man who was charged with attempted murder, left both physical and emotional scars. But thanks to bystanders’ quick thinking, Laila was shielded from further harm. Among those helping was Abdullah, a TWG Tea store security guard who tackled and disarmed the attacker before the police arrived. His bravery was later recognized by the Pakistani High Commission.

The Johnsons’ trip, initially filled with excitement from attending the Olympics in Paris, took a horrifying turn in London. But through it all, Laila's resilience and the kindness of strangers shone through, making her story an inspiring one in the face of unimaginable adversity.

The attack on 11-year-old Laila Johnson in broad daylight, right outside a popular spot like the Lego store in Leicester Square, is deeply unsettling. Such incidents can understandably lead to questions about public safety, especially for vulnerable groups like women and children. While cities worldwide have made strides in improving safety measures—enhancing surveillance, increasing police presence in busy areas, and creating better emergency response protocols—random acts of violence can make us question how effective these measures truly are.

It’s crucial, however, to remember that high-profile cases, while horrific, are statistically rare. London, like many large cities, is generally safe for tourists, with millions visiting places like Leicester Square each year without incident. Even so, incidents like these do spotlight the need for ongoing vigilance, community awareness, and public safety strategies that protect everyone, especially the vulnerable.

So far, there isn’t much public information available on why Ioan Pintaru, the 32-year-old Romanian citizen charged with the stabbing of Laila Johnson, was in the UK. Authorities have confirmed he is of no fixed address, indicating he may have been experiencing homelessness at the time of the incident. Without further details on his background or reasons for being in the UK, it's unclear whether he was a long-term resident, a recent arrival, or in transit.

In cases like this, police investigations typically delve into the accused’s history, including any criminal record, immigration status, and mental health history, as well as potential motives. This information often surfaces during court proceedings, so more may be revealed as the case progresses. For now, Pintaru's motives and reasons for being in the UK remain unknown.

This case continues