LONDON (AP) — An 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were stabbed Monday in London’s busy theater district and a man was arrested, the Metropolitan Police said, adding there was no indication the attack was terror-related.
The attack occurred outside a tea shop in Leicester Square, a magnet for tourists with its shops, theaters and cinemas. The square and surrounding area have an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week.
The victims were taken to a major trauma center. The girl required treatment but her life was not in jeopardy, police said. The woman’s injuries were less serious.
The stabbing occurred during a recent rise in knife crime in Britain, which is on edge after days of violence as crowds spouting anti-immigrant and Islamophobic slogans clashed with police. The disturbances have been fueled by right-wing activists who used social media to spread misinformation about a mass stabbing that killed three girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event.
