Acid attackers strike five times in 72-minute rampage
A MAN was feared blinded and four others were injured after two teenage acid attackers struck five times in 72 minutes.
Two youths – aged just 15 and 16 – were arrested yesterday on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm following the rampage on Thursday night.
Victims screamed in agony as corrosive liquid was hurled in their faces, witnesses said.
Prime Minister Theresa May called the attacks in east London “horrific” as MPs demanded harsher punishment for thugs found guilty of using acid as a weapon.
Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham and a stabbingattack victim in 2010, said: “We should have tougher and more consistent sentences for those committing these attacks.”
Carrying acid should be an offence similar to possession of a knife, he said.
Riding a motorbike, the attackers struck five times between 10.25pm and 11.37pm.
Responding to a quick succession of 999 calls, police attended the scenes of four of the attacks shortly after they were committed. They later discovered the gang had struck a fifth time and the victim was already in hospital.
The acid spree began in Hackney when motorcycle delivery man Jabed Hussain had a corrosive substance thrown in his face by the attackers.
As he writhed in agony, men stole his bike and fled.
Father-of-one Mr Hussain, 32, said: “I was lucky because I was wearing a helmet which is totally the burnt as was the hoodie I was wearing – like it has been exposed to fire.
“My face was burning. I was screaming for help and as the liquid on my face was drying it was getting more and more burnt.”
Witness John Moody said Mr Hussain let out “two frightening screams” after he was hit by the acid. He said: “Police were carrying those large containers of mineral water – five litre containers. The first thing they did was rip the water open and one policeman was saying, ‘We’re going to pour this into your eyes, keep your eyes open.’”
It was initially feared the gang were intent on robbing fast-food delivery riders and several of Mr Hussain’s colleagues from Deliveroo and UberEATS arrived at the scene.
The second attack came 24 minutes later in the Highbury Corner area of Islington when acid was thrown in the face of a 44-year-old man on a motorbike. The attackers fled emptyhanded but struck again in Tower Hamlets 16 minutes later.
Another male biker, aged 52, had acid hurled in his face but the robbers left empty handed.
Less than a quarter-of-anhour later, they attacked a 24-year-old man with acid in Stoke Newington.
Scotland Yard said the victim’s injuries were “life-changing”. Nothing was stolen.
The final attack came at 11.37pm in Hackney when a 33-year-old biker had acid sprayed at his face. This time the robbers stole his bike and escaped.