Police rule out crime but investigate how youngsters got hold of powder
TWO 12-year-old pals were left with severe burns after being showered with a burning white powder.
Shane Flower and Igor Wodecki were “messing about” in the street when the incident happened.
Shane’s sister Gemma Florence, 25, shared a photograph of her brother’s facial burns on social media as police appealed for the public’s help in finding out what happened.
Officers later confirmed they were not investigating the incident as a crime but trying to find out how the boys came to be in possession of the chemical.
Gemma posted: “Feeling heartbroken. My gorgeous little brother’s face! My poor boy is devastated.”
She said yesterday her mother Jenny had been told the substance was alkalinebased and had burned the top layer of Shane’s eyeball.
She said: “He’s had an eye test done and his vision is OK. The eye specialist has had a proper look and the plastic surgeon has examined around his eye and his face.
“There’s no timescale yet for recovery. It did get worse overnight. Shane’s eye was really swollen and it closed up again and he couldn’t open it at all.
“My mum’s at the hospital with him. He is in pain, and says it’s really sore.”
Both boys were treated in the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital after Wednesday evening’s incident outside a bookmaker’s shop in the Northfield district of the city.
Police launched a major investigation after being told the boys had had a substance thrown at them.
But after speaking to the two injured boys, they confirmed no crime had been committed. Detective Inspector Allen Shaw said: “I appreciate the upset this has caused the local community and would like to thank you all for your patience while our inquiries took place.
“I would also like to thank every member of the public who has provided information in relation to this investigation and thank the media for their assistance so far.”
Shaw said further inquiries will now be carried out as to how the substance involved was able to be accessed and where it came from.
He appealed to anyone with information to ring 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Gemma added: “I was at work and my mum phoned me hysterical, screaming that something has happened to Shane.
“Shane and Igor go to Northfield Academy together.
“It’s awful. Whatever it was also went into Shane’s pal Igor’s mouth and he has burns on the inside of his mouth and on his lips.”
He is in pain and says it is really sore SISTER GEMMA