'I jumped on him': Security guard disarms Leicester Square knifeman after two stabbed

Abdullah describes the moment he tackled the knifeman who attacked two people in Leicester Square

A security guard has spoken of the moment he "jumped on" and disarmed a knifeman in Leicester Square, after two people, including a child, were stabbed.

Police confirmed a man was arrested after an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were stabbed on Monday.

Both victims have been taken to hospital. Police said the girl does not have life-threatening injuries but will require hospital treatment, while the second victim suffered more minor injuries.

The force said the man in police custody is believed to be the only suspect, and there is no suggestion the incident was terror-related.

Police officers at the scene in Leicester Square, London. Credit: PA

The guard, who gave his name as Abdullah, 29, and works at TWG Tea shop in the square, said: “I heard a scream, at that moment I saw there was one person, 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."

Abdullah said he and his colleagues gave first aid to the child before the police took over and that he did not know if the girl was with family members at the time.

“I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. It’s my duty to just save them,” he said.

London Ambulance Service said it was called at 11.36am on Monday, August 12 to reports of a stabbing at Leicester Square.

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“We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre," a spokesperson said.

A police cordon is in place and several officers are reportedly at the scene.

Leicester Square attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week and is home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

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