Schoolgirl, 11, and woman, 34, stabbed in London's busy Leicester Square and rushed to hospital as police arrest man after hero security guard tackled him to the ground, halting the attack

UK Daily Mail ^ | 12 August 2024 | Chris Matthews

[packagingguy]

A schoolgirl and a woman have been rushed to hospital after they were stabbed in Leicester Square today in broad daylight.

The little girl, 11, and a woman, 34, were hospitalised after the nightmare unfolded in the bustling tourist hotspot just before midday.

Emergency crews were scrambled to the area, which sees thousands of visitors come through every day, just after 11.36am.

There were no immediate details about how badly injured either of the victims were but medics have taken them to a major trauma centre for treatment.

Detectives say a man has been arrested and is currently being held in custody.

A security guard said he 'jumped on' and took a knife from the man who stabbed the child.

The guard, who gave his name as Abdullah, 29, said he had worked in security at the TWG Tea shop for the past 'seven to eight months'.

He said: '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.'

---

TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: crime; police; stabbing; uk

[nwrep]

Thank god for the Abdullahs of England.

[Winniesboy]

It never felt at all unsafe back then.

Still doesn't.

[packagingguy]

His picture was on Twitter.

He’s not what I thought he would look like.

I was expecting a big man but he was rather slim.

[Hiddigeigei]

"There was a pub we liked in Leicester Square where we’d often get a bite to eat and a couple of pints. It never felt at all unsafe back then."

Farewell, Leicester Square!

[tsowellfan]

Good one

[fuzzylogic]

There’s video of the man in cuffs. He’s white but it’s being said he’s from Eastern Europe.

If true, another violent migrant. They don’t all have to be Pakistani Muslims.

[Getready]

How would anyone know?

[Bigg Red]

Very busy tourist area. Lots of pick-pockets.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Security guard was brave, and probably muslim. We may never know the motive of of the stabber.

[Albion Wilde]

Lots of photos of the London street scenes but nary a one of Abdullah.

Possibly for his own safety. Since he was the hero in the situation, he would now be a target if it was a jihad stabbing.