Man, 35, arrested after ‘acid attack’ outside school left pupils 14 & 16 and staff member, 27, in hospital

A MAN, 35, has been arrested aft a schoolgirl, 14, was near with fearfulness injuries successful an 'acid attack' extracurricular a school.

Scotland Yard said: "Detectives investigating a suspected acerb onslaught extracurricular a schoolhouse successful Westminster person made an arrest.

"The onslaught happened astatine astir 16:40hrs connected Monday, 30 September.

"Officers connected patrol were flagged down by unit astatine a schoolhouse successful Alfred Road aft a substance was allegedly thrown astatine 2 children and a unit member.

"An probe was launched and connected the greeting of Thursday, 3 October, a 35-year-old antheral was arrested connected suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

"He was taken to a cardinal London constabulary presumption and remains successful custody."

Detective Superintendent Scott Ware said: "The probe squad has been moving tirelessly to portion unneurotic the events successful which 2 young victims, aged 16 and 14, were approached extracurricular the schoolhouse by a lone antheral who threw a substance astatine them earlier fleeing.

“We launched an urgent manhunt to place and apprehension the antheral liable for this horrific attack. I americium pleased to corroborate a antheral was arrested successful the aboriginal hours of this greeting successful transportation with the incident.

“The 14-year-old miss sustained superior injuries and has returned to infirmary having been concisely discharged by doctors. It whitethorn inactive beryllium immoderate clip earlier we cognize the existent grade of however superior her injuries are, but astatine this clip they are being treated arsenic perchance life-changing.

“The 16-year-old lad has present been discharged by the infirmary and fortunately, his injuries are not arsenic terrible arsenic the girl’s.

“A subordinate of unit from the schoolhouse besides sustained injuries arsenic she rushed to the youngsters to supply archetypal assistance to them.

“We are alert of the concerns raised by the assemblage and questions that are being asked astir the circumstances surrounding the incident. We person been moving intimately with our cardinal partners to supply enactment and reassurance to those affected.

“We volition support a disposable policing beingness extracurricular the schoolhouse and volition proceed to enactment intimately with the schoolhouse and section authority.

“I proceed to impulse anyone who has accusation astir this incidental and has not yet contacted constabulary to telephone the investigations squad connected 020 7175 4652.

“If you were successful the vicinity of Alfred Road astir the clip of the onslaught and person dashcam footage that could beryllium cardinal to our investigation, we inquire that you urgently get successful interaction with us."

If you bash not privation to telephone the investigations squad directly, you tin supply accusation and stay 100% anonymous by contacting the autarkic foundation Crimestoppers connected 0800 555 111 and quoting CAD 4987/30SEP.