17-Year-Old Trans Girl Stabbed Repeatedly At Miami Airport

A 17-year-old transgender girl is in critical condition after being stabbed 18 times at the Miami International Airport over the weekend.

The teen, whose identity has yet to be released, was eating a meal on the floor in the pre-security area of the airport Saturday evening when she was allegedly stabbed in the arms, neck, shoulders, face, and legs by Alexander Love, 29, Miami-Dade County police told NBC News. Love then attempted to throw the girl over a railing.

“The victim was able to escape the attack and ran down the stairs to the third-floor level, which is where the officers found her,” police said.

The girl has not been able to provide other details about the incident because her injuries have left her unable to speak, according to ABC News. But police told the network on Monday that they are looking into the incident as a potential hate crime.

The Miami-Dade Police Department did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Love was charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted premeditated murder, according to the arrest report. He is being held without bond.

Police said Love attacked the girl “without provocation” and ambushed her with a butcher knife.

Shortly after the attack, Love was taken into custody by Customs and Border Protection. Miami-Dade police told NBC News that Love admitted that he had become acquaintances with the girl before the attack.

CBP did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

In an arrest report cited by ABC News, Love claimed that he was “possibly drugged and someone inserted an unknown object in his rectum.”

“Although the defendant is not certain the victim is responsible for this, the defendant made a statement indicating he needed to