A young girl who was brutally attacked by a madman armed with a knife in the midst of hustle and bustle of London on Monday was reportedly a tourist from Australia visiting with her family.

The girl – just 11 years old – was randomly grabbed by suspected madman Ioan Pintaru as she walked with her 34-year-old mother through London’s tourist hotspot, Leicester Square, in broad daylight at around 11:30 a.m.

After grabbing the girl, 32-year-old Pintaru allegedly put her in a headlock and then plunged a steak knife into her body. He stabbed her eight times before a security guard at a nearby store tackled him to the ground and ripped the bloody blade from his hand.

According to BBC, the girl was hospitalized with wounds on her neck, wrists, shoulders and face that required plastic surgery.

She has now been discharged and is expected to recover soon.

Pintaru, a Romanian citizen, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the random attack. It is not believed to have been motivated by terrorism.

The stabbing is also not believed to be linked to the wave of violence that has rocked London in recent weeks, following the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance class near Liverpool in July.

This incident sparked chaotic riots, fuelled by false rumours that the killer was a teenage Muslim migrant. The motive for the attack is also still unclear.

About 2.5 million people visit Leicester Square every week, many of them tourists.

Pinartu, who according to officials has no address, remains in custody and is due to appear in court again on September 10.