Men heard screaming for help after ‘acid attack’ in van

TWO men were taken to hospital with serious burns after being doused in what was believed to be acid as they sat in their van yesterday morning.

Police and ambulance crews were called to Amblecote, near Stourbridge, West Midlands at around 10.30am.

A minor crash also happened at the scene in the aftermath of the incident and the road was closed, according to West Midlands Police.

No arrests have been made but officers urged witnesses to come forward.

Analysis is due to be carried out on the liquid as part of the investigation.

Witnesses said they heard screams for help following the suspected acid attack, which happened near a branch of Laser Quest.

A local business owner told the Birmingham Live website: “I could hear someone screaming, ‘Help me, help me’, and there was about three police cars, two fire engines and an incident support unit. Whatever it was, it was more than an accident.

“It’s quite a decent area, it’s the first incident we’ve had like this.”

Another added: “I thought it was just a small crash because we could see the van had been hit.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Police are investigating after a potentially hazardous substance was thrown at two men while sat in a van on Wollaston Road in the Stourbridge area of Dudley just before 10.30am this morning.

“The men have been taken to hospital with serious burn injuries as enquiries continue to establish the circumstances around the incident.

“The road has been closed following a minor collision which resulted after the attack.”

Witnesses were asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

‘I could hear someone screaming, ‘Help me, help me’ … whatever it was, it was more than an accident’