In a shocking incident in south London, nine people were injured after a suspected corrosive substance was thrown at a woman and two young children on Wednesday evening. The Metropolitan Police swiftly responded to the call at Lessar Avenue, Clapham, around 7.25pm, where the woman and children suffered injuries from the suspected corrosive substance.
Among the injured were three members of the public and three police officers who came to the aid of the victims. Five of the individuals involved, including the woman and children, were transported to the hospital. Detectives are actively investigating the incident, and while tests are ongoing to identify the substance, it is currently believed to be corrosive.
Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle commented on the situation, stating that the injuries sustained by police officers were minor. He mentioned, “A man was seen fleeing the scene. We are drawing on resources from across the Met to apprehend this individual, and work is ongoing to determine what has led to this awful incident.” As of now, no arrests have been made, and the police plan to provide updates on the conditions of the injured individuals soon.
Local politician Marina Ahmad, Labour’s London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark, provided additional details, stating that the woman and children were in a car when the assault occurred. In a social media post, she wrote, “There has been a traffic collision with a man assaulting occupants in a car and throwing acid. Victims include children.”
Firefighters, equipped with specialist tools, responded to the chemical incident on Lessar Avenue. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson stated, “Firefighters were called to a chemical incident on Lessar Avenue in Clapham this evening,” adding that crews provided immediate emergency care and detected the corrosive substance used in the attack.
The London Ambulance Service played a crucial role in responding to the incident. A spokesperson reported that they received the call at 7.29pm and dispatched resources, including incident response officers, ambulance crews, and members of the hazardous area response team. In total, nine people were treated, with five of them taken to a major trauma center and three transported to a local hospital. The incident was resolved for firefighters by 9.21pm.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are actively working to apprehend the individual responsible for this disturbing incident.
Credit: The Guardian