Hero security guard tears up while speaking about girl he saved
Laila Johnson, 11, and her mother Samantha, 34, from Candelo near Bega in regional NSW, were sightseeing in London when the young girl was stabbed in a random attack in Leicester Square.
Abdullah, a security who was working nearby during the random attack, had jumped into action and saved her life by holding down the alleged attacker, Ioan Pintaru, until police arrived.
On Thursday, Laila and her mum talked about the terrifying incident on Sunrise, and spoke about the incredible bond they had formed with the hero security guard.
When shown the clip of Laila and her mum on Sunrise the day after, Abdullah was moved to tears by the heartfelt interview.
“I will try to be in contact with them all my life,” Abdullah said, wiping away tears from his eyes.
“She is just like my little sister now.”
Abdullah was hailed as a hero for his bravery, and recognised at the Pakistan High Commission in London as part of their Independence Day celebrations on the 14th of August.
Samantha had told Sunrise that Abdullah “is an absolutely gorgeous human”.
“He’s just been checking in on Laila and myself and, yeah, we’ve just been keeping in contact,” she said.
“He’s quickly taken Laila in as a little sister, and I think that he will continue to check in on her for a very long time."
Pintaru — a Romanian citizen with no fixed address — was not asked to enter any pleas and was remanded in custody before his next hearing on September 10.
He was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Images: Seven