Toddler stabbed in face, suspect previously deemed unfit for trial in attacks on 2 children: report

A stranger allegedly stabbed a toddler in the face as she sat in her stroller at a Rhode Island school bus stop, years after he was accused of knifing two other children and found incompetent to stand trial .

The child’s fight for survival has brought renewed scrutiny into the suspect’s past, including an attack on two children more than two decades ago and repeated findings that he was incompetent to stand trial.

Nelson Blanco, 46, is accused of stabbing the 2-year-old girl and her mother Wednesday afternoon near Broad and Public streets in Providence, police said.

SOUTH CAROLINA MOM ACCUSED OF KNIFE ATTACK ON YOUNG CHILDREN; 6-YEAR-OLD MAY LOSE ARM: SHERIFF'S OFFICE The toddler was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

Her mother, who suffered a stab wound to the shoulder, was treated and released, according to local reporting.

The mother was waiting with her daughter for her other children to get off a school bus when Blanco allegedly approached and made insulting comments, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said, according to WPRI.

ANGEL MOM SAYS BLUE STATE DAS ARE PUTTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS BEFORE PUBLIC SAFETY She crossed the street with the stroller to get away, but Blanco approached again and allegedly attacked the child with a knife, police said, noting there was no evidence he knew either victim.

Surveillance video showed the mother and daughter attempting to move away before Blanco grabbed the stroller and struck the child repeatedly, Boston 25 News reported.

A bystander tried to intervene , but Blanco allegedly attempted to stab that person before fleeing, according to the outlet.

Officers found Blanco hiding in the basement of a nearby home and recovered a knife from a panel box, police said.

Authorities said he admitted to the stabbings during questioning.

CALIFORNIA STABBING VICTIM'S FRIEND BLASTS 'FAILED' JUSTICE SYSTEM OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT'S RELEASE Blanco allegedly told detectives he stopped the attack because he was on a main street, according to a police report obtained by WPRI.

"If I was on a side street, I would have killed them.

Both of them," he said, according to the outlet.