Woman and 11-year-old daughter stabbed in central London

Photo: Benjamin Cremel Agence France-Presse A police officer stands near a cordoned-off area in Leicester Square, London, after a woman and her 11-year-old daughter were stabbed there on Monday.

Agence France-Presse in London

Published at 9:15 a.m. Updated at 1:35 p.m.

• Europe

A woman and her 11-year-old daughter were stabbed in Leicester Square, a popular tourist area in central London, on Monday, police said, with a man arrested and not considering the incident as a terrorist attack.

The girl “is seriously injured and will require further treatment, but is fortunately not life-threatening,” police said in a statement. Her 34-year-old mother suffered minor injuries.

A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene. Police, who were called at 11:34 a.m. Monday, said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

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“There is no indication at this stage that the attack is linked to terrorism,” police said as they sought to establish the suspect's motives.

“At this stage, we do not believe the suspect and the victims knew each other,” they added.

Local police chief Christina Jessah paid tribute to those who responded “bravely,” including local business workers.

“Investigators are looking to speak to anyone who was in the area who may have information that could help them,” she said.

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Several police officers were on the scene at midday, where a cordon was set up near the Lego store, which attracts many tourists.

The United Kingdom, where the carrying of firearms is strictly restricted, is experiencing a resurgence in knife violence (attacks on people, burglaries, etc.), which often involves young people.

They increased by 7%, to almost 50,000 incidents last year, compared to 2022, and have almost doubled in ten years, according to the Office for National Statistics.