Father of toddler targeted in acid attack is arrested

THE father of a three-year-old boy who had acid thrown in his face on Saturday has been arrested over the horrific attack.

The 39-year-old Afghan is being questioned after his son suffered serious burns as he sat in his pushchair in a shop in Worcester.

It comes as a 41-year-old man from Wolverhampton was arrested yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Three other men, aged 22, 25, and 26 who were arrested in London earlier in the week, are also being questioned in connection with the attack in the Home Bargains store.

It is now thought the target might have been the boy’s mother.

The couple had initially settled in Wolverhampton after fleeing wartorn Afghanistan 11 years ago.

Last year she left her husband, a taxi driver, and moved to a house in Worcester with their three children, now aged ten, eight and three, to start a new life.

Last night a neighbour recalled shouting matches between the couple, while another said when the woman left her husband broke down in tears claiming she would not let him see their children.

It is believed the thugs who carried out the acid attack on the boy had been monitoring the family after tracking them down to their new semi-detached home. Detectives have been questioning residents about sightings of suspicious people and vehicles in the area. ÷ More than 800 acid attacks were recorded over the past 12 months, police revealed yesterday.

The figure – more than two every day on average – has more than quadrupled in just four years and confirms fears the UK has one of the world’s highest rates of violence involving corrosive substances.

One senior officer said that the menace, which can leave victims scarred for life, is difficult to tackle because acid is easily purchased or found in most homes.