A manhunt is underway after a shocking attack with a corrosive substance in south London left nine people injured, including a mother and her two young daughters.
The attacker, who is still at large, threw the harmful substance at the woman and her children as they were sitting in their car near Clapham Common on Wednesday evening. Witnesses described hearing screams and seeing the victims with burns and blisters on their skin.
Three police officers and two bystanders who rushed to help were also affected by the acid and taken to hospital. The motive for the attack is unknown, but police are treating it as a serious incident and have launched a full investigation. The condition of the victims is not yet clear, but some of them are believed to have suffered life-changing injuries.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the local community and beyond, as corrosive substance attacks have become more frequent and violent in recent years. Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said she was “very concerned” by the reports and urged anyone with information to contact the police.