A man who carried out a random and brutal knife attack on an 11-year-old girl in the heart of London's West End has been handed an indefinite hospital order.
A Day Out Shattered by Violence
Ioan-Alexandru Pintaru, 33, with no fixed address, launched a savage assault on the Australian schoolgirl as she left the Lego store in Leicester Square with her mother on Monday, 12 August last year. The family was visiting London on holiday when the unprovoked attack occurred.
Pintaru put the child in a headlock and stabbed her repeatedly, inflicting wounds to her eye, neck, chest, and shoulder. The girl's mother later described in a witness statement how he attacked "like a jackhammer," appearing wide-eyed and manic.
Heroic Intervention and Swift Justice
The terrifying incident was halted by the courageous actions of bystanders. A security guard named Abdullah, 30, heard screams and ran from a nearby teashop.
He risked his own safety to grab Pintaru's hand, disarm him, and kick the knife away. Abdullah, along with two other men, then detained the attacker until police arrived at the scene within four minutes of being called at 11.34am.
An off-duty nurse provided immediate first aid at the scene. The young victim survived and was taken to hospital with her 34-year-old mother.
Mental Health Diagnosis and Court Sentencing
Pintaru was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and claimed he believed people were trying to kill him, though he stated he did not intend to harm anyone. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article on Friday, 3 October.
At the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 16 December, he was sentenced under the Mental Health Act. The court imposed a hospital order under Section 37 with an additional restriction order under Section 41, meaning he could be detained indefinitely.
Detective Constable Laura Nicoll of the Met's specialist crime team praised the bystanders' bravery, stating their actions likely saved the girl's life. She also highlighted the shock the attack sent through the capital, particularly in an area packed with tourists.
