The young girl was attacked earlier this week in the tourist hotspot (Picture: PA)
The victim of the stabbing in Leicester Square earlier this week has been identified as an 11-year-old Australian girl who was on holiday with her family.
The young girl, from New South Wales, was left with injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist and neck, and is understood to have undergone plastic surgery.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said the family is in contact with them.
Ioan Pintaru, 32, held the girl in a headlock while stabbing her in broad daylight. He has been charged with attempted murder and the possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Prosecutor David Burns told court yesterday that the girl and her mother were visiting the area as tourists when Pintaru attacked the pair.
It was initially thought the mother sustained injuries, but the blood from the girl’s injuries was mistaken as an injury on her mother as well.
Pintaru has been remanded in custody (Picture: PA)
Mr Burns added: ‘In relation to the complainant – she was taken to hospital and she currently resides in hospital where she’s undergoing treatment.
‘I understand that she required plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained.’
Pintaru appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt.
The court heard he is a Romanian citizen of no fixed address and the charges were read to him through an interpreter during the 10-minute hearing.
Pintaru was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 10.
The stabbing took place at the TWG tea shop in the heart of Leicester Square, in what police believe is a random attack and was not believed to be terror-related.
Leicester Square and the surrounding area attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week and is home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.
A security guard who works at the shop was branded a hero by his colleagues after he stepped in to protect the girl during the attack.
The tea shop worker, called Abdullah, said he rushed to save the youngster after hearing screams during his shift.
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.’
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