The Teenager Accused of Throwing a Young Victim From Tate Modern’s Balcony Is Charged With Attempted Murder

The six-year-old boy who
survived a fall from Tate Modern’s 10th floor viewing balcony on
Sunday afternoon is in a critical but stable condition, suffering
from a brain injury, fractured spine, and broken limbs. A court in
London heard yesterday, August 6, that the victim is from France
and was visiting the gallery with his family. The teenager accused
of throwing the boy off the building was officially charged with
attempted murder in a youth court, and remains in
custody.

Prosecutors told a youth court
Bromley, South London, that the victim was a French national who
was on holiday in the UK with his family. He was airlifted to
hospital after falling 100 feet and landing on a fifth floor roof
of Tate Modern. The boy remains in stable condition, but has a
“deep bleed to the brain,” as well as fractures to his spine, legs,
and arms.

The alleged assailant, a
17-year-old male who cannot be named in the press because of his
age, has been charged with attempted murder. He is due to appear
for a bail hearing at London’s Old Bailey court tomorrow, Thursday
August 8.

In a statement, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that the
boy was unknown to the teenager, and that the mental health of
the attacker is one line of inquiry. They are appealing for
witnesses who saw a male with “out of place, suspicious or
worrying” behavior in the hours prior to the incident.

The accused teenager spoke to the court to confirm details of
his name, age, address, and nationality. He was reportedly confused and
tearful, and had sustained a bruise to his right eye while being
detained by members of the public before his arrest by
police. The teenager from
northwest London has yet to answer the attempted murder charge with
a plea. A hearing has been scheduled for August 22, when he will be
able to formally enter a plea.

Tate Modern’s 10th-floor viewing
gallery remains closed to the public today. A Tate spokesman
tells artnet News that security arrangements are “reviewed
regularly and as part of best practice,” adding that they do not
discuss these “for obvious reasons.” In a statement, the gallery
said that it was working closely with the police, and that: “Our
thoughts are with the child and his family.” 

The post The Teenager Accused of Throwing a Young Victim
From Tate Modern’s Balcony Is Charged With Attempted Murder
appeared first on artnet News.