Girl, 9, stops mom's knife attack on brother in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Authorities say a 9-year-old girl managed to stop her mother's knife attack on her 5-year-old brother and that the St. Louis woman tried to drug both children and smother her 2-year-old son.

Thirty-five-year-old Syeda Sirajuddin, of Ballwin, was charged Thursday with armed criminal action and two counts each of first-degree assault and child endangerment. Her bail was set at $150,000, cash only. No attorney is listed for her in online court records.

The complaint says she stabbed the 5-year-old multiple times Wednesday at the family's home in western St. Louis County and held a blanket and her hand over the face of the 2-year-old. Authorities say the 5-year-old was hospitalized, but the other two children weren't seriously harmed.

The complaint says she also gave both children sleeping aides in an effort to knock them out.