POLICE IN LONDON are investigating a suspected acid attack after a dispute between two groups of males inside a shopping centre.
Six people were injured in the attack inside Stratford Shopping Centre but Met Police have said that their injuries are “not life-threatening or life-changing”.
They said the incident was not terror related and a 15-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
The incident happened at about 8pm when there was a fight between the two groups. During that incident a noxious substance was thrown.
When the liquid was thrown, both groups fled the scene and some ran into Stratford Station.
There were 431 acid attacks in London last year, 398 of which were carried out in Stratford’s borough of Newham.
The borough’s police commander Ade Adelekan said following this latest attack that authorities are trying to get such substances off the streets.
I recognise the lasting impact on victims of corrosive substance attacks. Our response to such attacks is continually improving through training and joint working with partners and we are working with the Home Office to explore possible restrictions around the sale of corrosive substances in conjunction with retailers and manufacturers.
Witnesses told the Press Association that an argument had broken out shortly before the attack.
Burger King employee Hossen, 28, said a local homeless man came into the fast food outlet “to wash acid off his face”.
With reporting by © – AFP 2017
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