Tate Modern boy, 6, ‘hurled by 17-year-old teen’ from 10th floor was a French tourist on family holiday
THE six-year-old boy who was thrown 100ft from the Tate Modern's viewing platform was visiting London with his family from France, it has been revealed.
Cops swooped to arrest a 17-year-old boy after the youngster was snatched from his mother's arms and sent plunging from the 10th floor at the central London art gallery yesterday in front of horrified families.
Horrified witnesses recounted how the young boy's mother was left shaking in fear and screaming "where's my son?" as the horror unfolded.
Police today confirmed the little boy's family are French, and had been visiting London. They are now being supported by specialist officers.
The 17-year-old suspect reportedly had to be barricaded into the Tate Modern's bathrooms after one man punched him in the face after witnessing the attack.
Cops swooped to arrest the teen - with claims he blamed "social services" as he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The suspect was initially thought to have been a family member of the little boy and authorities went to take him to the cafe when a witness yelled he was the culprit,
Panicked mums grabbed their own children as the terrifying scenes unfolded at the popular tourist attraction on Sunday.
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Administration worker Nancy Barnfield, 47, of Rochdale, was at the 10th-floor viewing gallery with a friend and their children when her friend heard a "loud bang" as the child landed on the fifth floor.
And she chillingly claimed she had seen the suspect walking through the Tate moments before, : "He followed us around everywhere.
"I told my kids to stay away from that man, it went on for ages. He looked about 19 to 21 years old, acting so weird.
"He had his hands behind his back the whole time, his back to the wall, just watching people. We walked away from him then immediately when he was out of sight a woman was screaming 'My son, my son' and people were grabbing him."
She added that the victim's mother had an Italian accent, saying: "We did not notice the mum before, we noticed her after because she was hysterical by then."
The six-year-old boy today remains critical but stable - but is "no longer in a life-threatening situation" - while police continue to question the teen suspect.
But Ms Barnfield claimed the suspect remained "quite calm" as he was arrested.
She said: "He was white and unshaven and had a blue T-shirt with a top wrapped around his waist. He was unresponsive. Even with everything happening he was chillingly calm."
'MOTHERS GRABBED THEIR CHILDREN'
Olga Malehevska was on the viewing platform with her four-year-old son when she witnessed the little boy falling - saying it was "absolutely terrifying".
The journalist from Ukraine said: "I was standing on the balcony with my little one and he was touching the fence and we were making pictures."
But she said she suddenly heard a noise, with people starting to shout "Oh my God, the boy dropped".
The little boy's mother was on the balcony, crying, shaking and shouting "oh my son, my son".
Another bystander, Corinne Brooks, said people started to grab their children "screaming and crying" after the horror unfolded.
He followed us around everywhere. I told my kids to stay away from that man
Nancy Barnfield
The Tate Modern was the UK's most popular tourist attraction in 2018 after being visited 5.9 million times, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.
With the schools having broken up and holiday season begun, there are likely to have been thousands of visitors to the gallery on Sunday.
Helen Jones, 46, of Manchester, said: “It was horrific. I thought there had been a terrorist attack.”
An air ambulance was seen at the gallery - flying the little boy to hospital.
Met Police this morning said officers were working hard to "establish the circumstances of yesterday's incident".
They said they had already spoken to some witnesses but appealed for anyone else who may have since the tragedy unfold come forward.
'TRULY SHOCKING'
DCI John Massey, investigating, said: “We are providing around the clock support to the little boy’s family as they wait for more news on his condition and our priority remains to determine what led to yesterday’s events.
"We are grateful for the support of the public, some of whom detained the male arrested in the immediate aftermath of the incident. He was arrested by officers very quickly afterward.
"This was a truly shocking incident, and people will understandably be searching for answers. “At the moment, this is being treated as an isolated event with no distinct or apparent motive.
"There is no link between the victim and male arrested.
"It would have been incredibly distressing to watch, and it may be that you left Tate Modern very quickly after. If you have not yet spoken to us about what you saw, please contact us without delay.
"My team is also very keen to talk to you if you witnessed a male whose behaviour seemed out of place, suspicious or worrying, in the hour or two before the incident in or near the gallery. It may be that this is something which has only just come back to you.
"If so, please still make that call to the investigation team.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 721 4868 or @MetCC quoting CAD 4660/4August.
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A spokeswoman for the gallery said: "Tate is working closely with the police to help with their investigations.
"All our thoughts are with the child and his family."
The Tate Modern has been reopened today but the viewing platform will remain closed.
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