Five acid attacks: teenager arrested

Two men on a moped carried out five acids attacks during a spree across London which lasted less than 90 minutes, police said.

The Metropolitan Police said one victim had been left with “life-changing” injuries after being doused last night in the east of the capital.

The assaults appeared to be linked and two involved victims having their mopeds stolen.

A male teenager was later arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and robbery and was taken to an east London police station.

At the start of the rampage, a 32-yearold moped rider was approached by the pair as he neared the Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road.

London Ambulance Service said it was called to the first attack on Hackney Road at 10.16pm, while police were alerted to the night’s final assault at 11.37pm.

In the initial encounter, the two male suspects tossed the noxious substance into their victim’s face before one of them jumped on his moped and rode away.

Police said the injured man was taken to an east London hospital for treatment.

Little more than 20 minutes later, at around 10.50pm, another victim was sprayed with searing liquid by the pair on the Upper Street junction with Highbury Corner, Islington. The victim was taken to hospital in north London.

Then, at around 11.05pm, the attackers swooped on a man in Shoreditch High Street, tossing the substance in his face.

His injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

Within 15 minutes, they appeared to have struck again, launching the corrosive liquid at a man on Cazenove Road and causing “life-changing” facial injuries.

The final assault was reported to police at 11.37pm, when another man was confronted as he sat on his moped in traffic on Chatsworth Road.

After again spraying the liquid in their victim’s face, his moped was stolen and both attackers fled.

Hazardous area response units were sent by the ambulance service to four of the scenes, while the victim of the Chatsworth Road made his own way to hospital.

The Met Police said in a statement: “Inquiries are ongoing and officers from Hackney CID are investigating.”

Police at one of the attack scenes.