A woman has been charged after four men were stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors in Covent Garden, central London, on Wednesday 5 August 2026. Stella Gollovena, who is 47, appeared in court the next day facing four charges of wounding with intent to cause serious harm and one charge of carrying a weapon in public. The judge ordered that she be kept in custody until her next court date at Snaresbrook crown court on 3 September 2026. Gollovena, who has no fixed address, confirmed her name but did not say whether she was guilty or not guilty. The Guardian

The court heard that the four men — Patrick De Barr, 34, Thomas Harding, 39, Adrian Lovett, 42, and Mantas Jankus, 56 — were stabbed in the back. Police were stopped on Endell Street at around 12:25 pm by one of the injured men. Two of the victims reported being stabbed before officers chased the suspect and stopped her using a Taser, a device that delivers an electric shock to temporarily immobilise someone. The Guardian

The London Ambulance Service treated four people at the scene and rushed all of them to a major trauma centre by road. An air ambulance helicopter landed in Trafalgar Square during the response. All four men were later sent home from hospital. Their injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing. The Guardian

The weapon was described in court as a pair of scissors, also called a "pair of shears," which Gollovena reportedly had on her when arrested. Police took statements from the four men who went to hospital. A fifth person at the scene said they had also been stabbed but chose not to give a statement. The Guardian

The Met Police confirmed Gollovena was born on 24 August 1978, making her 47 at the time of the alleged offences. She was charged and brought to court within about 24 hours of the incident. Metropolitan Police

The case now moves to Snaresbrook crown court, where Gollovena will face the five charges on 3 September 2026. In the English court system, a magistrates court handles less serious cases and first appearances, while a crown court deals with more serious crimes in front of a judge and jury. No pleas were entered at this first hearing, which is normal practice. The charge of wounding with intent is one of the most serious violent crimes in English law and can carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

A few details are worth noting. The fifth person who said they were stabbed but did not give a statement means the court may not have the full picture of who was affected. Whether prosecutors later add more charges or call more evidence at Snaresbrook will be decided at the next hearing. The use of a Taser, the quick charging, and the air ambulance all suggest police treated this as a high-urgency situation, which makes sense for a stabbing in a busy central London area during the day.

Covent Garden is one of London's busiest tourist spots, packed with visitors especially in August. An attack around midday on a Wednesday could have led to more injuries, though the four confirmed victims were ultimately judged to have non-life-changing injuries. The case will next be heard at the crown court, where the judge will decide how the trial proceeds.