A 17-year-old boy was arrested after a boy 6-year-old ‘fell’ from the 10th floor of the Tate modern in central London.
The teenager had appeared before Bromley Youth Court at 10.00am today (Tuesday 6 August). Having been charged, the Daily Mail reports he will appear at the Old Bailey on 8 August to plea, before appearing again at the Old Bailey on 22 August for a trial preparation hearing.
The court heard how the boy had suffered ‘very serious’ injuries, including fractures to his spine, legs and arms.
Magistrate David Armitage told the teenager: “You will be returned to youth detention until Thursday August 8 when you will attend the Central Criminal Court.
“You will attend there again on August 22 for a trial preparation hearing.”
Sian Morgan, prosecuting, said: “This is an incident that took place on August 4. The complainant is a six-year-old child. Visiting the Tate with his parents they were on the 10th floor viewing platform.
“He walked a couple of feet away from his parents. It is then said that the 17-year-old picked him up and threw him over the edge of the viewing platform.
“It was very swift and in one movement. The boy fell approximately 100 feet to the 5th floor.
“He suffered very serious injuries and is currently in hospital.
“He suffered fractures to his spine, legs and arms. The 17-year-old was apprehended by members of the public. Police arrived and arrested him.”
police responded to the call at around 2:40pm on Sunday after noon after reports of a young boy being ‘thrown’ from the 10th floor in Bankside SE1. along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
He was airlifted to hospital, where his condition was initially described as critical. However, police have since said he is now ‘stable, but critical’, and remains in hospital with his family.
The 17-year-old boy had remained with members of the public on the 10th floor viewing platform, before being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into police custody.
