A three-year-old girl, identified as Faten Abdullah, suffered severe lacerations to her face and head after being attacked by a lion cub at the National Circus in Agouza. The child arrived at Agouza General Hospital unconscious and in critical condition, requiring multiple surgeries and nine stitches to close a deep facial wound. Medical reports indicate the animal’s claws nearly reached the child’s brain before she was rescued.
A worker bypassed safety barriers for tourist photos
The incident began when a circus employee brought a lion cub out of its iron cage and moved it beyond the official exhibition walls to facilitate souvenir photographs with visitors. While the child was posing for a photo, the cub launched a sudden attack, gripping the girl and refusing to let go for approximately three minutes.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene where the child’s father, uncle, and other bystanders fought to pry the animal’s jaws open. One witness told Masrawy that the cub was not small, comparing its size to that of a large dog, and noted a total absence of professional trainers or animal handlers during the crisis.
Prosecutors are reviewing safety failures and staff negligence
North Giza prosecutors have ordered the detention of the photographer involved in the incident. The public prosecution team conducted a site visit to the National Circus to examine the exact location of the attack and has ordered a full review of the facility’s surveillance footage.
Loba El-Helou was released on bail set at $630 (20,000 Egyptian pounds) following the initial investigation. To determine if systemic negligence played a role, the prosecution formed a specialized committee to audit the circus’s safety protocols and identify specific lapses in animal handling.
The child’s condition has stabilized following emergency care
Hospital staff administered emergency first aid and conducted necessary surgeries immediately upon the girl’s admission. Though she was initially unconscious due to the severity of the trauma to her head and face, medical reports now confirm her condition is stable.
Security forces from the Agouza police station filed official report No. 5017 after interviewing the family, who corroborated the account of the attack. The case remains under investigation as authorities seek to determine the exact chain of command that allowed a predator to be handled in a public transit area without professional supervision.
Was the attack part of a scheduled circus show?
No. Investigations revealed the incident happened outside the official performance walls in a visitor area, where a worker had brought the cub specifically for souvenir photos.
Who was held responsible for the incident?
The prosecution detained the photographer and released Loba El-Helou on a 20,000 Egyptian pound bail, while a committee was formed to investigate the circus management’s safety failures.
