London acid attacks: Teenager arrested

A teenager has been arrested after acid was thrown in people’s faces in five attacks over one night in London.

Two moped riders attacked the victims over 90 minutes in Islington, Stoke Newington and Hackney on Thursday.

An eyewitness said he heard a victim, who he believed was a delivery driver, “screaming in pain”. One victim suffered “life-changing injuries”.

Police said they were looking into whether moped riders were targeted so their bikes could be stolen.

Hackney resident Jon Moody said he was watching TV when he heard screaming and ran to the window.

“I heard a high-pitched scream but thought it was the boys playing football… I heard more shouting and ran to my window,” he said.

“I could see a man in serious distress, he was screaming in pain.

“There were only two police officers with the victim, they took out two large water canisters and poured it over him.”

He said he believed the victim was a delivery driver and about 20 fellow delivery drivers turned up at the scene.

The Hackney Gazette last week reported many delivery drivers are refusing to work in some areas after 21:30 BST because of robbery fears.

The assaults happened amid increasing concern about the sharp rise in acid attacks in London.

Since 2010 there have been more than 1,800 reports of attacks involving corrosive fluids in the capital. Last year, it was used in 458 crimes, compared to 261 in 2015, according to Met Police figures.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said the growing trend of victims being doused with corrosive liquids was concerning.

Ms Dick told LBC Thursday night’s attacks were “completely barbaric”.

“The acid can cause horrendous injuries,” she said.

“The ones last night involved a series of robberies we believe are linked – I am glad to see we have arrested somebody.”