LONDON (AP) — A 6-year-old boy who was thrown from a 10th-floor viewing gallery at London’s Tate Modern gallery is no longer in a life-threatening condition, police said Monday.
A 17-year-old boy is being held on suspicion of attempted murder over the incident, which happened Sunday afternoon while the gallery was packed with visitors.
The Metropolitan Police force said the younger boy is in a critical but stable condition in a London hospital. He fell from the open-air viewing platform to a fifth-floor roof.
Nancy Barnfield was at the gallery with her family when she heard a “loud bang,” and then saw a woman screaming “where’s my son, where’s my son?”
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Emergency crews attending a scene at the Tate Modern art gallery, where a teenager has been arrested after a child fell from height and has been taken to hospital from the gallery in central London by air ambulance.
Police officers overlook from the viewing platform at the Tate Modern art gallery, following the arrest of a 17-year-old male on suspicion of attempted murder after a six-year-old boy was thrown from the tenth floor viewing platform.
A sign posted outside of the Tate Modern reminds visitors the gallery closed earlier today due to an incident in which a teenager has been arrested after a child fell from height and was taken to hospital from the gallery in central London by air ambulance.
Visitors outside the Tate Modern as the gallery closed earlier today due to an incident in which a teenager has been arrested after a child fell from height and was taken to hospital from the gallery in central London by air ambulance.
Emergency crews attending a scene at the Tate Modern art gallery, where a teenager has been arrested after a child fell from height and has been taken to hospital from the gallery in central London by air ambulance.
Emergency crews attending a scene at the Tate Modern art gallery, where a teenager has been arrested after a child fell from height and has been taken to hospital from the gallery in central London by air ambulance.
A general view of Tate Modern art gallery, where emergency crews attended a scene following the arrest of a 17-year-old male on suspicion of attempted murder after a six-year-old boy was thrown from the tenth floor viewing platform (top left).
A secutiry guard secures the entrance as people stand outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
People talk to a secutiry guard securing the entrance to the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
People cross the Millennium Footbridge across the River Thames with the Tate Modern gallery in the background in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
A general view shows the Tate Modern gallery on the southern bank of the River Thames in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
A London Air Ambulance helicopter takes off from outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
Police, ambulance crews and fire crews are seen outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
Police, ambulance crews and fire crews are seen outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
Police, paramedics and fire crews are seen outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)
People walk outside the Tate Modern gallery in London on August 4, 2019 after it was put on lock down and evacuated after an incident involving a child falling from height and being airlifted to hospital. – London’s Tate Modern gallery was evacuated on Sunday after a child fell “from a height” and was airlifted to hospital. A teenager was arrested over the incident, police said, without giving any details of the child’s condition. (Photo by Daniel SORABJI / AFP)(Photo credit should read DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images)Up Next
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She said a man on the platform was restrained by other visitors until police arrived. Barnfield said he “just stood there and was quite calm.”
Police say they don’t believe the suspect and victim knew each other.
The child was treated at the scene before being flown to hospital by London’s air ambulance.
Tate Modern, Britain’s leading gallery of modern art, sits on the south bank of the River Thames and was visited by almost 6 million people last year.
The 10th-floor terrace is part of a pyramid-shaped extension that opened in 2016 and offers panoramic views over London.
The gallery reopened Monday, but the viewing platform remained closed.
“Tate is working closely with the police to help with their investigations,” a spokeswoman said. “All our thoughts are with the child and his family.”
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