Woman left with severe burns after acid attack

A WOMAN suffered lifechanging burns after acid was sprayed in her face as she walked alone on the street.

The 36-year-old victim, who did not see her attacker, suffered appalling injuries to her face and leg. No warning was given and nothing was said to her during the apparently motiveless attack near Canary Wharf in London’s docklands just before 7pm on Wednesday.

No arrests have been made. A Met police spokesman said: ‘Detectives from Tower Hamlets are appealing for information after a woman was sprayed with a noxious substance. Officers are currently reviewing CCTV and pursuing a number of leads to identify the suspect.’

Britain is currently battling a huge surge in acid attacks, with 449 reported in London alone in the past year, and police chiefs warn the problem is no longer confined to big cities.

The UK now has one of the highest per capita rates of acid attacks in the world, but officers are unable to tell when thugs are carrying corrosive liquids as test kits don’t work.

They want new legislation to criminalise the carrying of acid, with the onus on the carrier to prove it is for legitimate use.

Police expect the number of attacks this year to reach a new high. The rate is already higher than countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the crime is often associated with domestic violence, family and ‘honour’ disputes.