Girl, 11, and mother stabbed in 'horrific' shopping street attack

A shop security guard has described how he overpowered a knifeman who stabbed an 11-year-old girl and her mother, 34, in a "horrific" and apparently random attack in London's busy Leicester Square.

- Matthew Weaver Vikram Dodd Caroline Davies

The mother and daughter were taken to hospital by paramedics after a man, who is not thought to have been known to them, was disarmed and pinned to the ground.

Witnesses said the girl was stabbed as she was grabbed and held in a headlock. She suffered serious injuries, though her condition is not said to be life-threatening. Her mother suffered minor injuries.

The incident is not thought to be terror-related, the Metropolitan police said.

A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene. The security guard, who works at TWG Tea and gave his name as Abdullah, 29, described how he "jumped on" and took a knife from the man who he said stabbed the child. He said his colleagues had administered first aid.