‘Nothing will stop her’: How Australian schoolgirl Laila Johnson, 11, survived London stabbing attack
NSW schoolgirl Laila Johnson was stabbed eight times during a frenzied attack on a London street. She’s shared her harrowing story and how “nothing will stop her”.
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Shielded by her mum as she lay on a London footpath, screaming and bleeding from eight wounds after a random stabbing attack, little Laila Johnson knew one thing: she had a date with Taylor Swift that she couldn’t miss.
In her extraordinary first interview since the terrifying attack in Leicester Square last week, the 11-year-old girl who police say was grabbed in a headlock and knifed in the face and neck while on holiday with her mother Samantha, has told her harrowing story, and why she was determined the stabbing would not slow her down.
“I had to get to the Taylor Swift concert,” she joked.
And she did. With two Metropolitan Police Service officers by her side — the same pair who had plucked her to safety a day earlier — Laila was released from hospital last Tuesday and escorted to Wembley Stadium to see Swift perform.
“It was amazing,” she said.
In disbelief at her daughter’s determination and strength, Mrs Johnson said even with stitches in her face and neck, Laila was up dancing and singing.
The mother and daughter, from Candelo, near Bega on the NSW south coast, were on a girls’ trip overseas with some friends to watch the Matildas play in the Paris Olympics.
Fresh from the excitement of the Games, the group made their way to London to explore the city and so Laila could see Taylor Swift in concert, after missing her in Sydney last year.
“It was nice to be around English speaking people again,” Laila joked.
Last Monday, August 12, Mrs Johnson and Laila were playing tourist and wandering around Leicester Square, peering into shops like the TWG Tea and Lego stores, when their holiday of a lifetime almost turned deadly.
Police allege homeless man Ioan Pintaru, 32, allegedly leapt from nowhere and lunged at Laila with a steak knife.
LAILA’S SAVIOURS
Witnesses recalled hearing Laila’s “blood curdling” scream and watching Mrs Johnson throw herself over Laila’s small body to shield her from the ferocity of the knife attack.
“It was all very scary,” Mrs Johnson said. “But it could have been way worse”.
A “hero” security guard who had just clocked on for his shift at the TWG Tea store bolted to the pair’s aid.
Mrs Johnson said a week on, she’s still texting the guard named Abdullah, 29, and thanking him for saving her daughter’s life.
Abdullah, who was later recognised for his bravery by the Pakistani High Commission, tackled the knifeman to the ground and disarmed him.
“I saw there was a guy and he was stabbing a kid. I didn’t think anything, I just ran towards him, jumped on him, grabbed his hand with the knife and got him down on the floor,” he said during his recognition ceremony.
“I kicked the knife away and held him down with a couple of other guys for four to five minutes, shouting for the police”.
Laila was rushed to hospital where she underwent plastic surgery to the wounds to her face and neck.
But after just one night in hospital, Laila had places to be, and no one dared say no.
Laila and Mrs Johnson, plus her “favourite” two police officers, left hospital and headed for the medicinal treatment the brave girl needed.
“It was amazing,” Laila said. “Some people organised for us to go into a VIP box and there was food being served and a private toilet, which was very exciting,” she said.
Despite the stitches in her face and neck, Laila didn’t miss a beat when it came to enjoying the show.
“She was still very sore, but she was getting up and dancing,” Mrs Johnson said.
The pair flew home to Australia and made their way to their picturesque farm, where Mrs Johnson and her husband Troy remain blown away at Laila’s strength and positivity.
LAILA IN WONDERLAND
But there was no time for rest and recuperation, Laila had to honour a commitment to her schoolmates, as the lead role in Alice in Wonderland the following night.
“Nothing will stop her,” Mrs Johnson said. “I was expecting her to crumble when she got home, but that didn’t happen”.
On Monday night, in front of an amazed community at Candelo Public School, Laila played her part to perfection.
It might be the first Alice to have stitches in her face, but Laila wasn’t having it any other way.
“No one was going to play Alice but her,” Mrs Johnson said.
Laila returned to school on Thursday, with both her and her mum are determined to leave what happened in London … in London.
“We just needed to stop and have a break for a few days. It was a huge ordeal for us,” said Mrs Johnson said.
She said Laila’s first steps back to school went well.
“Her friends were happy to see her.
Laila vowed that her memories of London would not be tainted by the crazed attacker.
“I’ve met so many lovely people, especially in the hospital and the police who have been looking after me,” Laila said.
“They’ve just been so lovely”.
Mrs Johnson has now asked for privacy, to allow her family and Laila’s life to return back to normal.
Laila’s alleged attacker was charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody. Police said the attack was random and not terror-related.
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Originally published as ‘Nothing will stop her’: How Australian schoolgirl Laila Johnson, 11, survived London stabbing attack
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