Girl stabbed on first journey to London was seeing Taylor Swift
An Australian schoolgirl who was stabbed on her first trip to London has bravely told how she has refused to let the attack ruin her holiday as she was seeing Taylor Swift at Wembley.
The 11-year-old girl, who is from the small town of Candelo in New South Wales, was exploring Leicester Square last week with her mother when a man stabbed her in the face and neck.
The victim, who will require plastic surgery, was allegedly put in a headlock by Ioan Pintaru, 32, who is accused of attacking her before being restrained by members of the public and arrested by police.
Pintaru, of no fixed abode, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.
The girl told Sydney‘s Daily Telegraph that she was determined not to allow the attack, which left her needing stitches, ruin her first trip to London.
Ioan Pintaru (pictured), of no fixed abode, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article
Police at the scene following a horror stabbing attack in Leicester Square, central London, on August 12
The day after the attack, the girl was allowed to leave hospital to see pop icon Swift perform at Wembley and sang and danced in spite of her injuries
The day after the attack, she was allowed to leave hospital to see pop icon Swift perform at Wembley and sang and danced in spite of her injuries.
The two Metropolitan Police officers who had rescued her from the horror attack helped escort her to the concert.
‘It was amazing. Some people organised for us to go into a VIP box and there was food being served and a private toilet, which was very exciting,’ she said.
Her mother said the stabbing was ‘scary’ but that she was proud of her daughter’s bravery.
‘Nothing will stop her. I was expecting her to crumble when she got home, but that didn’t happen,’ she said.
The mother and daughter had travelled to Europe for the Paris Olympics before heading to London.
The mother, 34, said that she was still texting the security guard, Abdullah, 29, who helped members of the public wrestle the suspect to the ground.
Abdullah – who was guarding the nearby TWG tea shop – managed to disarm the 32-year-old suspect.
He revealed earlier this week that he originally came to the UK to study for a master’s degree in project management after growing up in Abbottabad, northern Pakistan.
A court artist’s sketch of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Police officers stand in front of the cordoned-off area in London’s Leicester Square
Police were seen detaining a man in Leicester Square after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed
An aerial view of the police cordon at the scene in London’s Leicester Square
Speaking out about the attack – which came amid widespread rioting by far-right thugs – proud migrant Abdullah said: ‘This is our country, we came here as a choice so we are protectors, not attackers.’
Abdullah, who is the youngest of seven, said he started working in security after failing to find a job as a project manager.
Speaking to the Guardian, he added he ‘really enjoyed’ his work as a guard, proudly telling the paper: ‘I’m protecting people
Abdullah has since been praised for his heroism, with his bravery being recognised last week at the Pakistani high commission.
And he said his courage was even being celebrated back in his home country.
‘They’re saying: “Well done Abdullah, hero of Leicester Square”,’ he told the Guardian. ‘All of my relatives, friends are going to my home [in Pakistan] and meeting my parents, my siblings. It’s just like Eid, people are coming there and celebrating like: “Your son has made our whole country proud”.’
Pintaru has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 10.
He has a four-year-old child who lives in Manchester, but he is currently homeless.
