Leicester Square stabbing 'hero' Abdullah condemns social media fakes

Far right's Tommy Robinson retracts claims about security guard who says he disarmed knifeman

Abdullah, a security guard, says people impersonated him on social media after the stabbing in Leicester Square. PA

A security guard hailed as a hero for disarming a knifeman in central London has hit out at social media impersonators after falsehoods spread about him online.

The man, named Abdullah, surfaced on social media hours after the Leicester Square stabbing in which an 11-year-old girl was injured.

"I would like to inform you that there are many fake accounts circulating on social media under my name," he said.

Far-right agitator Tommy Robinson had seized on one of the fake accounts to make an unfounded claim that Abdullah supported Hamas.

Mr Robinson, who was widely accused of helping to stir up last week's racist violence in England, later retracted his post.

Social media disinformation was also blamed for the unrest, with several people arrested over online posts.

The Leicester Square stabbing came two weeks after the knife attack near Liverpool that sparked the rioting.

Ioan Pintaru, 32, appeared in court on Tuesday accused of attempting to murder the 11-year-old girl.

Police arrived to find a man being held on the ground after members of the public intervened, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Met Police detective chief superintendent Christina Jessah paid tribute to those who "bravely intervened".

"They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so," she said.

Abdullah, a security guard at TWG Tea shop, said he intervened after he "heard a scream" and saw a child being attacked by a knifeman.

"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," he said.

"Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came, it took maybe three to four minutes for the police to arrive and then they just took him into custody.”

He later shared links to what he called his official X, Instagram and TikTok accounts, which appeared to give his name as Abdullah Tanoli.

"I would like to thank each and every one of you for the love and support you have shown today," he said.

The girl was taken to hospital with serious stab wounds but her condition is not life-threatening, police said.

They said her mother, 34, was initially thought to have been injured, but was covered in blood from her daughter's wounds.

Police do not believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other.