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A MAN WHO was the victim of an acid attack in London on Thursday night has said it felt like someone threw fire in his face.
Delivery driver Jabed Hussain (32) was one of five people attacked with acid in London on Thursday, in incidents that police believe are linked.
Met Police said that they have arrested two teenage boys on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery following the incident.
Speaking to The BBC, Hussain – whose moped was stolen in the attack – described the pain after the acid was thrown at him.
“I took off my helmet and I was just screaming for help. Because it’s getting dry and as much as it’s getting dry it’s burning,” he said.
So I was just screaming for water, screaming for help.
Hussain said it felt like “someone threw extreme fire on my face”.
“That’s what I thought it’s kind of like burning and I can’t explain to you how I feel,” he said.
He said he was “lucky” as the attackers had attempted to throw acid on his face, but his helmet had saved him.
Following on from Thursday night’s incidents, it was reported that there was another man attacked with a “noxious substance” yesterday evening.
Attacks using acid have been on the rise in England in recent years.
Addressing Thursday’s incident and the recent increase in acid attacks, Chief Inspector Clark said that businesses need to be increasingly aware of the use of such substances as a weapon.
“Of late we have seen more attacks using corrosive substances in London,” he said.
“I would urge businesses and parents to challenge those who they think may be trying to obtain or carry these substances as this could help prevent serious offences and life changing injuries being caused.”
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Should be a minimum 20 year sentence for such a premeditated attack
@Captain kirk: life imprisonment would deter people from commiting this heinous sick crime.
This will happen here before long and if our politicians were any good they would have set a mandatory sentence already so the first person charged would serve as a strong deterrence against any subsequent criminals.
@winston smith: They did. In 1997. Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. Section 4, Causing Serious Harm. A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for life or to both.
However this section of the act may only apply if the injury sustained was “life changing”. Otherwise it would probably be assault causing harm, where the penalty is up to 5 years on indictment.
Thanks blah that is some consolation and hopefully the judges will step up to the plate and send a strong signal out if and when the unfortunate occasion arises.
Perhaps – but you have to wonder what the attacker would get here?¡
@Paul Foot: free legal aid and a bus pass home from court to serve out the suspended sentence, …what else.
@Paul Foot: Look it up http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/act/26/enacted/en/html
25 years for the offence, regardless of the injuries caused and if they are seriously injured or killed? Then life in prison, until they die and are buried on prison grounds as prisoner number 123456.
Even in the context of carrying out muggings how can two teenagers develope the mindset to think that throwing acid in people’s faces is acceptable behaviour.
A pair of psychopaths who need careful monitoring for the rest of their lives.
Disgusting
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