UK authorities charge teen after 6-year-old thrown from Tate

LONDON — A British youth court on Tuesday ordered a teenager be held on a charge of attempted murder for allegedly throwing a 6-year-old boy from a 10th-floor viewing gallery at London's Tate Modern museum.

The 17-year-old boy appeared at Bromley Youth Court and spoke to confirm his name, address, date of birth and British nationality. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

The child, a French national, was airlifted to a hospital after plummeting five stories to a roof in the incident, which took place Sunday afternoon when the popular gallery was packed with visitors. He is in critical but stable condition after suffering a sustained bleed on his brain and fractures to his spine, legs and arms.

Police say the suspect and the victim had no connection. Detective Chief Superintendent John Massey said this was a "truly shocking incident" that was treated as an isolated event "with no distinct or apparent motive."

The teen will appear at London's Central Criminal Court on Thursday.

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.

AP