Teen moped thieves spray acid in eyes of delivery rider
A DELIVERY driver is seriously ill after being repeatedly sprayed in the eyes with acid by thieves trying to steal his moped. Muhammed Nawshad Kamal, 32, is likely to lose his sight after the attack by two schoolboys.
The pair, who were riding their own moped, tried to steal his £2,500 scooter before carrying out an almost identical acid attack 30 minutes later.
Mr Kamal, who has lived in Britain for eight years after moving here from Bangladesh, had just dropped off a pizza at an address in Walthamstow, East London, when he was approached by two teenagers who demanded the keys to his scooter at 6pm on Thursday.
When he refused, he was sprayed with acid. Screaming in agony, Mr Kamal desperately banged on the door of the house he had just delivered to. But his customers refused to open the door while his attackers continued to drench him in acid on their doorstep.
Their attack was only halted when a woman in a car nearby called for help. Within minutes, firemen and police arrived and poured water over Mr Kamal, who was struggling to breathe after inhaling the liquid.
Last night police were interviewing a 14- year- old boy arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
The attack comes days after Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick said she was shocked at the ‘extraordinary’ surge in moped crime. In the year to September there were more than 19,385 ‘ moped-enabled’ crimes in the capital, an average of 53 a day.
Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Henderson last night said the victim’s injuries were shocking. ‘It is likely that he will lose sight in both eyes,’ he said.
Yesterday friends of the victim described his horrific injuries. Imran Rumel said: ‘I have been to see him in hospital and he is in a terrible state ... I don’t know if he will ever see again.’
Police believe the same gang struck again at 6.30pm the same day in Tottenham in another attempted robbery a mile and a half away. A second delivery driver who is also 32 was approached by two men on a scooter who attempted to rob him and sprayed acid in his face.
The driver was also treated in hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Mr Henderson said: ‘We have a suspect who is 14. I believe that the others who may be involved are of a similar age.’ He appealed for anyone with information to contact police, and added: ‘This attack has left a man fighting for his life ... it is imperative we arrest those responsible.’